Liquid Drop Ejection Head Asymmetric FPC Wiring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid drop ejection heads are bulky and costly due to the arrangement of flexible printed circuit boards, which limits the downsizing of image forming apparatuses and increases the width of the printing head, hindering high-speed printing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates multiple lines of nozzles with corresponding drive elements and flexible printed circuit boards, where the wiring board is arranged parallel to the nozzle line, and the input terminals are positioned not to face each other, reducing the width of the liquid drop ejection head and minimizing the number of wiring layers, thereby downsizing the apparatus while maintaining efficient signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible printed circuit boards are arranged at both side surfaces of the nozzle with connection sections opposing each other, then electrical connection is achieved, but the printing head width increases and cannot be thinned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging the connection sections of the flexible printed circuit boards at different positions rather than opposing each other. Specifically, when viewed from the nozzle surface, the connection sections are positioned asymmetrically relative to the drive circuit board, allowing the boards to be folded back at different angles and positions. This asymmetric arrangement enables electrical connection while reducing the overall printing head width.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dimensional change by folding the flexible printed circuit boards back at angles rather than extending them linearly. The connection sections are arranged to be folded back by different angles from the nozzle surface, transforming the spatial arrangement from a two-dimensional planar layout to a three-dimensional folded configuration. This allows electrical connection while minimizing the width occupation.
2Reliability
If two sheets of flexible printed circuit boards are used to connect drive elements, then all drive elements are connected, but the number of parts and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple connection functions into a single flexible printed circuit board by arranging drive elements and their corresponding connection sections in a linear sequence on one board. Instead of using separate boards for different drive element groups, all drive elements are connected through one continuous flexible printed circuit board, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining complete electrical connectivity.
3Reliability
If input terminals are arranged opposing each other via the drive circuit board, then connection is achieved, but wiring becomes overcrowded and stacking layers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the connection sections from the traditional opposing arrangement and repositions them asymmetrically on the flexible printed circuit board. By taking out the connection sections from the constrained opposing positions and arranging them in a linear sequence along the board, the wiring path is simplified and does not require multiple stacking layers, reducing overall wiring complexity.
4Productivity
If the printing head is elongated with more nozzles for high-speed printing, then printing speed increases, but the apparatus becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by folding the flexible printed circuit board back at angles, allowing the connection structure to occupy less space in the width direction. This enables the printing head to be elongated in the nozzle arrangement direction to increase nozzle count for higher printing speed, while the folded circuit board configuration prevents corresponding increase in width, thus avoiding bulkiness.
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 allows for a more compact and cost-effective liquid drop ejection head, reducing the overall width of the printing apparatus and enhancing high-speed printing capabilities by minimizing wiring congestion and layering, thus promoting downsizing without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration plate member (2) connected to a lower surface of the flow channel substrate (1), and having a piezoelectric element fulcrum (12A, 12B)
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid drop ejection head unit includes plural lines of plural nozzles formed on a nozzle plate, plural lines of plural drive elements that generate energy for ejecting liquid drop through the plural nozzles, and plural sheets of flexible printed circuit boards that input signals to the plural drive elements. The sheets of flexible printed circuit boards include input and output terminals for taking in and output a signal to one of the plural drive elements. A wiring board is provided to connect to the input terminals of the plural sheets of flexible printed circuit boards. The wiring board is arranged in parallel to the nozzle line within a width of nozzle plate. The plural sheets of the flexible printed boards are arranged opposing to each other via the wiring board. The input terminals are positioned not to face each other.