Laser Welding Flow Path Member With Light Blocking Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser welding failures in the production of flow path members for liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, lead to issues like fluid leakage and obstruction of fluid flow due to improper welding, particularly when laser light is incident at oblique angles, causing shifts in the irradiated position and resulting in insufficient or excessive fusion.
Innovation Solution
A flow path member design featuring a first material that absorbs laser light and a second material with lower absorbance, where the outer surface of the second material includes light blocking and transmitting portions that adjust their positions based on the incident angle of the laser light, ensuring accurate welding by shifting the external edges of the welded portions to match the laser light path, thereby preventing welding failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser light is transmitted through the lid member to weld the container case, then welding efficiency is improved, but the irradiated position shifts when laser light is incident at oblique angles, causing welding failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light blocking portion on the outer surface of the lid member to control the laser light path. By blocking light at specific positions and angles, it creates a defined transmission path that ensures the laser reaches the correct welding position on the container case, preventing position shifts caused by oblique incidence
Solution Approach 2:
The light blocking portion acts as an intermediary element between the laser light source and the container case. It mediates the laser transmission by selectively blocking and directing light, ensuring that the laser light reaches the intended welding position with accurate positioning even when incident at oblique angles
2Manufacturing precision
If the laser light is blocked at the boundary between light blocking and transmitting portions, then welding precision is improved, but the boundary position must be precisely adjusted according to the incident angle, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the position of the light blocking portion based on the incident angle parameter of the laser light. By changing the boundary position according to the incident angle, it ensures that the laser light is blocked at the correct position to achieve precise welding, while the adjustment can be made through simple positional changes rather than complex mechanisms
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 ensures appropriate welding of flow path members, preventing fluid leakage and obstruction, even when the laser light is incident at angles less than 90 degrees, by setting the external edges of the welded portions according to the laser light's path, thus maintaining fluid flow integrity and preventing incomplete or excessive fusion.
Implementation Method 1
a first flow path-forming member (41) made of a material capable of absorbing a laser light
Implementation Method 2
a second flow path-forming member (51) made of a material that has a lower absorbance with respect to the laser light than the first flow path-forming member (41)
Data Source
AI summary
A flow path member includes a first flow path-forming member made of a material capable of absorbing a laser light and a second flow path-forming member made of a material that has a lower absorbance with respect to the laser light than the first flow path-forming member and having in a portion of an inner surface that at least partially forms a flow path at least one welded portion that is welded to the first flow path-forming member. An outer surface side of the second flow path-forming member that is an opposite side to the inner surface is provided with at least one light blocking portion capable of blocking the laser light and at least one transmitting portion that is capable of transmitting the laser light and that is positioned on an opposite side to the at least one welded portion and the at least one light blocking portion and the at least one transmitting portion are in contact on at least one boundary with each other. At least one external edge of the at least one welded portion is at a position that is shifted by a shift from the at least one boundary to a side toward which the laser light incident on the at least one boundary at an incident angle less than 90 degrees travels.