Liquid Ejection Head Gas Blowing Port Vortex Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printing technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality images due to airflow-generated vortices that cause deviations in ink droplet landing positions, leading to streaks and turbulence, especially when increasing ink ejection port density or frequency, which can destabilize vortices and reduce image quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head with a gas blowing port array that blows gas upstream of the airflow between the print head and the printing medium, adjusting the airflow orientation and reducing the size of vortices by controlling the gas blowing speed and position relative to the ink ejection ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If gas is introduced at high flow rate to eliminate vortices, then vortex generation is reduced, but landing positions of ink droplets deviate significantly from desired positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing gas at specific locations (upstream side of the airflow between print head and printing medium) rather than uniformly throughout the entire space. This localized gas introduction targets the vortex generation area while minimizing impact on droplet trajectories, resolving the contradiction between vortex elimination and landing position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by introducing gas at controlled, moderate flow rates rather than high flow rates. This partial gas introduction is sufficient to stabilize vortices and reduce wind ripples while avoiding excessive gas flow that would cause significant deviation of ink droplet landing positions from desired locations.
2Productivity
If ejection port density is increased to achieve high-speed printing, then printing speed improves, but vortex stability decreases causing wind ripples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing gas upstream of the airflow area before vortices fully develop. This preliminary gas introduction creates a stabilizing effect that prevents vortex formation and wind ripples from occurring in the first place, allowing high ejection port density to be used without compromising image quality.
3Productivity
If ejection frequency is increased to achieve high-speed printing, then printing speed improves, but vortex instability increases causing wind ripples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing gas upstream of the airflow area before droplets are ejected and before vortices can form. This preliminary gas introduction creates a stable airflow environment that maintains vortex stability even when ejection frequency is increased, preventing wind ripples while preserving high printing speed.
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 approach effectively stabilizes the landing positions of ink droplets, reducing wind ripples and improving image quality by minimizing the disturbance caused by airflow vortices, even at higher ejection frequencies and densities, without significantly affecting the airflow.
Implementation Method 1
The gas blowing port blows gas to an upstream side of an airflow generated in an area between an ejection port surface of the ejection port array and the printing medium while the liquid ejection head is moving relative to the printing medium
Implementation Method 2
The liquid ejection head blows the gas from the gas blowing port at a predetermined speed during ejection of the droplets to change the orientation of an airflow of a vortex generated due to the ejection of the droplets to reduce the size of the vortex
Data Source
AI summary
Gas is blown at a predetermined speed from a predetermined area on an orifice substrate with reference to the position of an ejection port array.