Liquid Ejecting Head With Elastic Seals for Chip Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads, such as those in inkjet printers, face challenges in regenerating or reusing head chips due to the difficulty in separating the head chip and the flow path structure without misalignment, as they are coupled via adhesives.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design featuring a holder with flow path forming portions and a fixed plate that accommodates head chips, utilizing elastic sealing members for liquid-tight coupling between flow paths, allowing for easy replacement and reuse of head chips without misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head chip and flow path structure are coupled via adhesive, then liquid-tight connection is achieved, but separation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the coupling mechanism into two independent functions: mechanical positioning (via the positioning protrusion and groove) and liquid-tight sealing (via the adhesive). This segmentation allows the adhesive to provide reliable sealing while the mechanical structure enables easy separation and reattachment without compromising either function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the head chip is separated and reattached, then reuse is enabled, but misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning protrusion and groove are pre-formed on the head chip and flow path structure respectively, establishing precise alignment geometry before the actual attachment process. This preliminary mechanical guidance ensures that when the head chip is reattached after separation, it automatically returns to the correct position without misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusion and groove act as an intermediary mechanical interface between the head chip and flow path structure. This intermediary feature mediates the alignment process by providing physical guidance that ensures precise positioning during both initial assembly and subsequent reuse scenarios.
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
Enables efficient regeneration and reuse of head chips by maintaining liquid-tight connections, reducing the complexity of replacing or reusing components in liquid ejecting heads.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic sealing member disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the one first coupling flow path and an outer peripheral surface of the flow path pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes head chips ejecting a liquid in a first-direction, a fixed plate having a flat plate portion to which the head chips are fixed, and a holder having a flow path forming portion provided with first-coupling-flow-paths that are open in the first-direction, the head chip has a flow path pipe in which a second-coupling-flow-path is provided and which protrudes in a second-direction opposite to the first-direction, and in a state where the flow path pipe is inserted into the first-coupling-flow-path, the first-coupling-flow-path communicates with the second-coupling-flow-path in a liquid-tight manner via an elastic sealing member disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the first-coupling-flow-path and an outer peripheral surface of the flow-path-pipe when viewed in the first-direction.