Fluid Ejection Device Assembly Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid ejection device assemblies face challenges such as corrosion and mechanical/chemical compromise of circuitry due to exposure to ink and servicing wear, as well as complex molding requirements and high manufacturing costs for forming the headland to receive the fluid ejection device.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a fluid ejection device assembly where the fluidic structure, including the headland to support the fluid ejection device, is formed separate from the reservoir body. This allows for a monolithically molded fluidic structure to be coupled to a separately molded body, simplifying manufacturing and enhancing efficiency by separating the molding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fluidic structure including headland is formed separately from the reservoir body, then manufacturing complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but device assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid ejection device assembly is divided into separate components: the reservoir body and the fluidic structure (including headland) are formed as separate parts. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimized molding processes, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while enabling more complex fluid and air routing geometries in the fluidic structure.
2Reliability
If the flexible circuit is removed from the corrosive environment, then reliability of the flexible circuit is improved, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible circuit is extracted from the corrosive ink environment by routing it through dedicated pathways that keep it isolated from direct contact with ink. The flexible circuit connects to the fluidic structure at strategic locations where it can be protected from corrosion while maintaining electrical connectivity, thereby improving reliability without compromising functionality.
3Productivity
If complex fluid and air routing geometries are implemented, then fluid ejection efficiency is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the fluidic structure from the reservoir body, the patent enables the implementation of complex fluid and air routing geometries in the fluidic structure without increasing overall manufacturing difficulty. The fluidic structure can be molded as a separate component with optimized internal pathways for efficient fluid and air routing, while the reservoir body is molded independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluidic structure acts as an intermediary component that bridges the reservoir body and the fluid ejection device. It provides a dedicated pathway for fluid and air routing, enabling complex geometries to be implemented in a controlled manner while maintaining ease of manufacture through separate molding processes.
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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and increases the reliability of the fluid ejection device assembly by removing the flexible circuit from the corrosive environment and allowing for more complex and efficient fluid and air routing geometries.
Implementation Method 1
a reservoir with capillary medium to hold ink
Implementation Method 2
A flexible circuit comprises contact pads at the front side of the reservoir to connect to counter pads of the printer to receive print signals
Data Source
AI summary
In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluid ejection device component is described. The example fluid ejection device component includes a fluidic structure (100) with at least one channel to deliver fluid to a fluid ejection die and at least one via for passing electrical routing.