Fixing Plate Sealing for Liquid Ejecting Heads
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejecting apparatus faces challenges in securing a tight seal between the cap and the fixing plate, leading to ink evaporation and nozzle drying due to gaps formed by positioning holes, and this issue is exacerbated when trying to reduce the number of caps per head to minimize components.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejecting apparatus incorporates a fixing plate with a contacting region where a first hole and a second hole are disposed inside the contacting region and blocked by a filler, ensuring the cap maintains a secure seal and preventing ink evaporation during capping and suction cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of caps is reduced to one per head, then the number of components is reduced, but the sealing property between the cap and fixing plate deteriorates due to gaps formed by positioning holes
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the positioning hole (causing gaps and poor sealing) is extracted and eliminated. The patent removes the positioning hole from the fixing plate, thereby eliminating the source of the sealing problem while maintaining the structural integrity and positioning functionality through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using positioning holes to align components (which creates sealing gaps), the patent inverts the approach by making the fixing plate structure itself provide both positioning and sealing functions. The cap and fixing plate are designed to directly contact and seal without requiring separate positioning holes, thus achieving both component reduction and improved sealing.
2Reliability
If the positioning hole is moved outside the contacting region, then the sealing property improves, but the size of the head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning hole is completely extracted from the design. Rather than relocating it to balance sealing and size, the patent eliminates the need for a separate positioning hole by integrating positioning and sealing functions into the cap-fixing plate interface, thus avoiding the trade-off between sealing and head size.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function and sealing function are merged into a single integrated interface between the cap and fixing plate. The cap's contacting region directly engages with the fixing plate to provide both positional alignment and sealing, eliminating the need for separate positioning holes and avoiding increased head size.
3Area of stationary object
If the positioning hole is moved inside the contacting region, then the size of the head is reduced, but the sealing property deteriorates as the cap space communicates with the atmosphere causing ink evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning hole is extracted from the contacting region, eliminating the pathway that allows atmospheric communication and ink evaporation. By removing this hole entirely and using an alternative positioning method, the sealing integrity is maintained while avoiding the need to relocate the hole.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a hole (which creates a communication pathway for evaporation), the patent inverts the approach by using a solid, continuous contacting region between the cap and fixing plate. This solid interface prevents atmospheric communication while still providing positioning functionality through the geometry of the contacting surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head and a cap configured to contact on an annular contacting region provided in a fixing plate. The liquid ejecting head includes head chips, each including a nozzle plate, and the fixing plate provided with opening portions for exposing the respective nozzle plates. A first hole and a second hole different from the opening portions are provided in the fixing plate. The fixing plate includes a first surface provided with the contacting region and a second surface to which the head chips are fixed. The opening portions are disposed inside the contacting region in a plan view when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. Each of the first hole and the second hole is disposed inside the contacting region in the plan view and is blocked by a filler.