Flow Path Member Welding Using Fused Director to Prevent Concavity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow path members in liquid ejecting heads, such as ink jet recording heads, face issues with air bubble stagnation and reduced reliability due to concave portions formed during welding, which affect liquid flow and air bubble dischargeability.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing a flow path member where a concave portion on one surface is covered by another surface, with a fused director introduced inside to prevent stagnation, and the members are fixed by curing the director to form a flow path, enhancing air bubble dischargeability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the welding portion is positioned away from the flow path to avoid functional loss, then the function of functional members is preserved, but a concave portion is formed in the flow path causing liquid stagnation and air bubble dischargeability deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
A director member is introduced as an intermediary component during the welding process. The director member is positioned to bridge the welding area away from the flow path, allowing welding to proceed without creating concave portions in the flow path. This mediator enables both functional member performance and air bubble dischargeability to be maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The director member is pre-positioned on one of the members before welding occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when welding is performed, the director member is already in place to prevent concave portion formation, thereby preventing liquid stagnation and air bubble dischargeability deterioration before the problem can occur.
2Reliability
If the welding portion is positioned away from the flow path, then functional member performance is maintained, but liquid flow stagnation occurs in the concave portion
Solution Approach 1:
The director member serves as a mediator that prevents the formation of concave portions in the flow path during welding. By being positioned in the welding area away from the flow path, it allows welding to proceed while maintaining smooth flow path geometry, thus preserving both functional member performance and liquid flow stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a director is disposed apart from the flow path for welding, then welding can be performed, but a concave portion opens the flow path causing air bubble residence and growth
Solution Approach 1:
The director member is used as a mediator that enables welding to be performed away from the flow path while preventing the formation of concave portions. This allows the welding process to proceed easily while maintaining air bubble dischargeability, as the director member fills the space that would otherwise create problematic concave geometry.
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 method improves air bubble dischargeability and reliability by preventing stagnation and increasing the welding area, leading to a more efficient and reliable flow path.
Implementation Method 1
fixing the first member and the second member by curing the fused director
Implementation Method 2
the fused director is likely introduced to the portion of which the first surface comes into contact with the second surface due to capillary force
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a flow path member which forms a flow path such that a concave portion provided on a first surface of a first member is covered with a second surface of a second member, the method includes introducing a part of a fused director to an inner side of the concave portion when viewed from a direction in which the first member and the second member are laminated; and fixing the first member and the second member by curing the fused director in a state where the concave portion is covered with the second surface to form a flow path.