Liquid Ejection Head Flow Path Joining Strength via Resin Injection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads face challenges in enhancing the joining strength between flow path forming members, which limits the miniaturization and efficiency of the liquid supply unit and ejection head.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates first and second flow path forming members with opposed surfaces, where the first surface features a groove portion and a protruding portion to form a side wall, and the second surface has a lid portion to cover the groove, with a resin joining member contacting the outer surfaces, allowing for increased joining surface area and enhanced integration through injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the joining member is formed to merely cover the periphery of the lid portion, then the liquid supply unit can be manufactured with simple structure, but the joining surface area is small and joining strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional peripheral coverage approach to a three-dimensional multi-surface joining approach. The joining member is designed to contact three distinct surfaces: the outer surface of the protruding portion, the first opposed surface, and the second opposed surface. This spatial expansion in multiple dimensions dramatically increases the joining surface area and strengthens the bond between flow path forming members while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Volume of moving object
If the liquid supply unit size is reduced for miniaturization, then the liquid ejection head becomes more compact, but the joining strength between flow path forming members decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the joining function in a specifically designed joining member with optimized contact surfaces. Rather than uniformly distributing the joining function throughout the structure, the joining member is strategically positioned to contact three critical surfaces at key locations. This localized approach to joining functionality enables miniaturization while maintaining sufficient joining strength through optimized local contact areas.
3Strength
If the joining surface area is increased to enhance joining strength, then the liquid supply unit size increases, contradicting miniaturization goals
Solution Approach 1:
The joining member is nested within the confined space of the liquid supply unit, efficiently utilizing the available three-dimensional space. By positioning the joining member to contact the outer surface of the protruding portion, the first opposed surface, and the second opposed surface in a nested arrangement, the invention maximizes joining surface area within the minimal volume required, enabling both miniaturization and enhanced joining strength simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration efficiently deploys the supply passage and joining member, reducing the size of the liquid supply unit and ejection head while significantly improving the joining strength between the flow path forming members.
Implementation Method 1
by injecting the molten resin into a space formed by the outer peripheral surface of the lid portion, the surface of the first flow path forming member, and the inner surface of the fixed mold to form a joining member
Data Source
AI summary
An opposed surface of a first flow path forming member has a groove portion forming a supply passage, and a protruding portion protruding from the edge of the groove portion to form the side wall of the groove portion. An opposed surface of a second flow path forming member has a lid portion that abuts against the protruding portion of the first flow path forming member to cover the opening of the groove portion in the first flow path forming member. A joining member is formed by injection-molding of a resin to abut against an outer surface of the protruding portion of the first flow path forming member and the opposed surfaces of the first and second flow path forming members.