Flow Path Member Buffer Chamber Air Bubble Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow path members in liquid ejection heads, such as ink jet recording heads, face issues with ink thickening and gelation due to water evaporation through filters, leading to ejection failures, which is not limited to ink but also applies to other liquids.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a buffer chamber downstream of the filter in the liquid supply path and an air bubble discharge section with a wider wall closer to the filter, along with a seal member, to prevent ink thickening and improve air bubble discharge efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is provided in the flow path member, then liquid can be filtered, but water evaporates through the filter causing liquid to thicken and gel
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer chamber is provided downstream of the filter to store liquid in advance. This buffer chamber acts as a cushion that prevents liquid thickening and gelation by maintaining sufficient liquid volume downstream of the filter, thereby resolving the contradiction between filtration reliability and liquid composition stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a buffer chamber is provided downstream of the filter, then liquid thickening is prevented, but air bubble discharge ability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into distinct functional regions: a buffer chamber downstream of the filter for preventing liquid thickening, and a separate air bubble discharge section with a wider wall for efficient air bubble discharge. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between liquid composition stability and air bubble discharge efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If the flow path is extended downstream of the filter, then liquid volume increases preventing thickening, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber and air bubble discharge section are integrated into the flow path member as nested or combined structures. The air bubble discharge section is positioned within or adjacent to the buffer chamber region, allowing both functions to be achieved within a compact space, thereby increasing liquid volume without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
The configuration effectively delays ink thickening and gelation, reducing the risk of ejection failures by maintaining a larger ink volume downstream of the filter and enhancing air bubble discharge capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member disposed on a circumference of the mounting section and made of an elastic material
Implementation Method 2
prevent ink remaining downstream of the filter from thickening in a short period of time due to evaporation of water through filter
Data Source
AI summary
A flow path forming body that includes a liquid supply path, and a mounting section; a filter that is fixedly attached to the mounting section so as to cover an opening of the liquid supply path; and a seal member disposed on a circumference of the mounting section and made of an elastic material are provided, wherein a buffer chamber is provided in the liquid supply path downstream of the filter, and an air bubble discharge section having a wall is provided in a region at least distant from the opening of the liquid supply path downstream of the buffer chamber in a plane direction of the filter such that the wall is closer to the filter than to the buffer chamber and has a width in the plane direction of the filter which is larger than that of the buffer chamber.