Liquid Ejection Head Atmosphere Communication Passage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads face issues with imperfect sealing due to bubble formation and ink adhesion, leading to clogging and reduced ejection capability, particularly because the atmosphere communication passage is not effectively sealed during manufacturing and operation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a support member with a groove forming an atmosphere communication passage, where one opening is sealed with the sealant and the other remains open to discharge gases, preventing bubble formation and ensuring hermetic sealing, even when the cap is applied, thus preventing ink adhesion and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the sealant is applied onto the lead terminals after the recording element substrate and the electric wiring board are fixed to the support member, then foreign matters hardly enter the nozzle plate, but bubbles are formed in the gap between the recording element substrate and the side surface of the recessed portion, causing imperfect sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The atmosphere communication passage is formed in advance in the support member before applying the sealant. This preliminary structure allows air to escape during the subsequent sealant application process, preventing bubble formation while maintaining the benefit of delayed sealant application that keeps the nozzle plate clean.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the atmosphere communication passage has one opening in the side surface of the recessed portion and the other opening in the outer peripheral surface of the support member, then gas can be discharged, but the recessed portion cannot be hermetically sealed when the cap is applied, causing ink adhesion to the ejection port
Solution Approach 1:
The atmosphere communication passage is positioned locally in a specific region of the support member that is external to the recessed portion. This localized placement allows the passage to serve its gas discharge function while the cap can still hermetically seal the recessed portion, preventing ink adhesion to the ejection port.
3Reliability
If the atmosphere communication passage is formed in the support member, then bubbles can be prevented and gas can be discharged, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The atmosphere communication passage is integrated into the support member structure itself, merging the gas discharge function with the existing support component. This eliminates the need for separate gas discharge mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable sealing.
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 design enhances the sealing reliability of the liquid ejection head, reducing the likelihood of imperfect sealing and ink adhesion, ensuring consistent ejection performance and easy removal of adhering ink through the use of a cap and decompression unit.
Implementation Method 1
a sealant 6 with which the wiring 15 is covered
Implementation Method 2
a passage (12) formed in the support member 4, and allowing a first region where the sealant 6 is placed, and a second region different from the sealed region to communicate with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head includes a recording element substrate having an ejection port, a support member having a recessed portion and supporting the recording element substrate by a bottom portion of the recessed portion, wiring electrically connected to the recording element substrate and extending between the recording element substrate and a side surface of the recessed portion, a sealant with which the wiring is covered, and a passage formed in the support member and allowing a first region where the sealant is placed and a second region different from the sealed region to communicate with each other.