Ink Heating Apparatus with Liquid Chamber for Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, temperature fluctuations in the ink due to flow amount changes cause dot-diameter fluctuations and prolong the time from power ON to ink ejection, especially when the ink heating apparatus is integrated into the ink supply path.
Innovation Solution
A liquid heating apparatus with a liquid chamber and a temperature-adjusting flow path unit, where the liquid chamber temporarily stores ink and the temperature-adjusting flow path unit, with a serpentine or spiral shape, heats the ink to stabilize temperature fluctuations, reducing the time to start liquid ejection and minimizing mass fluctuations of ink droplets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the ink heating apparatus is disposed in the middle of the ink supply path from the ink tank to the recording head, then the ink temperature can be controlled, but temperature fluctuations occur due to flow amount changes
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber temporarily stores ink before it enters the temperature-adjusting flow path unit, allowing the ink to be heated in advance. This preliminary heating action ensures that the ink reaches a stable temperature before being supplied to the recording head, reducing temperature fluctuations caused by flow amount changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid chamber acts as an intermediary between the ink tank and the temperature-adjusting flow path unit. It buffers the ink flow and allows for stable heating, mediating between the variable flow conditions and the requirement for stable temperature control.
2Temperature
If the ink heating apparatus is disposed in the middle of the ink supply path, then ink temperature can be adjusted, but the time from power ON to ink ejection is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber temporarily stores ink before heating, allowing the system to prepare the ink for ejection in advance. This preliminary storage and heating action reduces the time from power ON to ink ejection by having the ink ready before it is needed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a liquid chamber is disposed on the liquid supply route to temporarily store liquid, then temperature fluctuations are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber is integrated with the temperature-adjusting flow path unit to form a unified ink heating apparatus. This merging of the storage function and heating function reduces device complexity while maintaining temperature stability.
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 solution reduces temperature fluctuations and shortens the time from power ON to ink ejection, ensuring consistent ink droplet size by optimizing the volume and configuration of the liquid chamber and temperature-adjusting flow path unit, maintaining acceptable pressure loss and enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid chamber, disposed on a liquid supply route for the liquid, configured to temporarily store the liquid
Implementation Method 2
When an ink with high viscosity is used, in many cases, the ink is heated in order to reduce the viscosity in advance before the ink is supplied to an inkjet head
Implementation Method 3
a temperature-adjusting flow path unit configured to heat the liquid supplied from the liquid chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid heating apparatus for heating a liquid that is supplied to a liquid droplet ejection head is provided. The liquid heating apparatus includes a liquid chamber unit configured to be disposed on the supply route of the liquid and to temporarily store the liquid, and a temperature-adjusting flow path unit configured to heat the liquid supplied from the liquid chamber unit.