Liquid Ejecting Head Nozzle Segmentation for Ink Stagnation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads with two-tiered nozzle structures face challenges in maintaining efficient ink ejection performance, particularly for micro nozzles, where the small capacity leads to increased viscosity and stagnation, resulting in frequent failure to eject liquid properly.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejecting head unit incorporates a design with first and second nozzles featuring specific capacity and length ratios, where the second portion of the first nozzle and the fourth portion of the second nozzle have larger capacities and longer lengths in the X direction, respectively, to enhance ink circulation and prevent viscosity increases, allowing both nozzles to function effectively as two-tiered nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a two-tiered nozzle structure is applied to micro nozzles, then liquid ejection performance is improved, but the small capacity causes liquid stagnation and viscosity increase, leading to frequent ejection failures
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into two distinct portions with different capacities. The first portion has small capacity for precise micro droplet ejection, while the second portion has large capacity for liquid storage and circulation. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function optimally without the drawbacks of a single-capacity design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the nozzle are given different local qualities in terms of capacity. The first portion is designed with small capacity for precise ejection control, while the second portion is designed with large capacity for liquid reservoir functions. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between precise ejection and preventing stagnation.
2Productivity
If a two-tiered nozzle structure is applied to ordinary nozzles, then liquid ejection performance is improved, but the same structure causes stagnation in micro nozzles due to their inherently smaller capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The two-tiered nozzle structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The first portion handles ejection for both ordinary and micro nozzles, while the second portion provides liquid storage and circulation for both types. This universal design allows the same structural principle to improve ejection performance across different nozzle types without causing stagnation issues.
3Measurement precision
If the capacity of the first portion is made small for micro nozzle precision, then micro droplet ejection is achieved, but liquid stagnation occurs more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The second portion acts as an intermediary between the liquid supply and the first portion. It maintains a large capacity reservoir that prevents stagnation in the small-capacity first portion. The intermediary second portion ensures continuous liquid supply to the precision ejection first portion without causing it to stagnate.
Data Source
AI summary
The first nozzle includes a first portion and a second portion. The second nozzle includes a third portion and a fourth portion. The capacity of the first portion is smaller than the capacity of the second portion. The capacity of the third portion is smaller than the capacity of the fourth portion. The capacity of the first portion is smaller than the capacity of the third portion. The length of the second portion in the X direction is greater than the length of the fourth portion in the X direction.