Ink Jet Head Flow Path Design for Bubble Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet heads face challenges in reducing size while maintaining effective bubble discharge, leading to increased production costs and difficulties in high-definition printing due to large size and high flow resistance in narrow flow paths.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a head chip with a nozzle layer, pressure chamber layer, individual communication flow paths, and a common communication flow path disposed in the pressure chamber layer, allowing for efficient ink circulation and bubble discharge, with the common flow path's width greater than the nozzle layer's thickness and individual flow paths extending from nozzles to the common flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the communication flow path and pressure chamber are designed with relatively large volume in the head chip, then bubbles and foreign matters near the nozzles can be effectively discharged, but the size of the ink jet head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the communication flow path in the thickness direction of the head chip by forming it to penetrate through the pressure chamber layer. This vertical extension increases the flow path volume and bubble discharge capability without increasing the planar area, thus resolving the contradiction between effective bubble discharge and compact head size.
2Volume of moving object
If the individual communication flow paths and common communication flow path are disposed on the base board in a narrow area, then the ink jet head size can be reduced, but the flow resistance of the flow paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication flow path is designed to extend in the thickness direction of the head chip rather than being confined to the planar base board. This three-dimensional configuration increases the flow path volume and reduces flow resistance while maintaining a compact overall head size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the flow path geometry and cross-sectional area to reduce hydraulic resistance. By increasing the flow path volume through vertical extension, the ink flow resistance is reduced, enabling effective ink circulation and bubble discharge without increasing the planar footprint.
3Productivity
If the communication flow path has sufficient volume for effective bubble discharge, then productivity can be maintained without additional maintenance work, but the production cost increases due to increased materials
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the flow path in the thickness direction rather than increasing planar area, the patent achieves sufficient flow path volume for effective bubble discharge without proportionally increasing material consumption. This resolves the contradiction between maintaining productivity through effective bubble discharge and controlling production costs.
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 configuration enables a compact ink jet head that effectively discharges bubbles and reduces production costs by increasing the flow path volume, enhancing ink circulation and heat dissipation, thus maintaining productivity and quality in continuous printing.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure chamber layer with pressure chambers communicated respectively with the nozzles; wherein the head chip includes: individual communication flow paths which are communicated respectively with the pressure chambers and which are capable of discharging the ink in the pressure chambers
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet head with a head chip including a nozzle layer with nozzles for jetting ink and a pressure chamber layer with pressure chambers communicated respectively with the nozzles; and a manifold which stores the ink to be supplied to the pressure chambers; where the head chip has individual communication flow paths which are communicated respectively with the pressure chambers and which are capable of discharging the ink in the pressure chambers; and a common communication flow path which is disposed in a part facing the nozzle layer of the pressure chamber layer and which is connected to the individual communication flow paths to join the ink discharged from the individual communication flow paths together.