Ink Jet Head Unit Positioning via Intermediary Pins

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Solution Overview

Problem

The mounting process of ink jet head units is time-consuming and labor-intensive due to slight shifts in nozzle openings, which affect image quality and require individual adjustments.

Innovation Solution

An ink jet head unit with a holder featuring three abutment faces and adjustment plates that allow for precise positioning and angle adjustment, using adhesive in grooves for bonding to reduce alignment efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple ink jet head units are aligned and mounted on a fixing member to improve recording speed and resolution, then the recording performance is improved, but the time and effort required to mount and fix the head units while adjusting their positions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording speedVSAvoidmounting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fixing member with positioning pins as an intermediary mechanism between the ink jet head units and the mounting surface. The positioning pins automatically determine the location and orientation of each head unit, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for manual position adjustment and reduces mounting time while maintaining high recording speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning pins are pre-configured on the fixing member at specific locations and orientations before the mounting process begins. This preliminary arrangement of positioning elements allows for automatic alignment of ink jet head units during mounting, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual adjustment of each head unit's position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the number of ink jet head units is increased to improve recording resolution, then the recording resolution is improved, but the time and effort required to mount and fix the head units increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording resolutionVSAvoidmounting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing member with pre-positioned positioning pins acts as an intermediary that standardizes the mounting process. Each positioning pin automatically determines the precise location and orientation of head units, enabling rapid mounting of multiple head units without manual adjustment, thus achieving high recording resolution without proportional increase in mounting time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing member is segmented into multiple positioning pin locations, each independently configured to hold a specific ink jet head unit. This segmentation allows multiple head units to be mounted simultaneously or in quick succession without interfering with each other's positioning, maintaining high resolution while reducing total mounting time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If individual position adjustment is performed for each ink jet head unit to compensate for nozzle opening shifts, then image quality is maintained, but the mounting process becomes more time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle alignment precisionVSAvoidmounting process ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning pins on the fixing member serve as intermediaries that automatically compensate for nozzle opening shifts. By determining the location and orientation of each head unit, the positioning pins eliminate the need for manual position adjustment, maintaining precise nozzle alignment while significantly simplifying the mounting process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning pin system enables the mounting process to be self-aligning. When ink jet head units are placed on the fixing member, the positioning pins automatically determine their correct position and orientation without requiring external adjustment tools or manual intervention, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while improving ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3603975B1Ink jet head unit and method for manufacturing ink jet head unit
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP3603975B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3603975B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3603975B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4C

AI summary

Provided are an ink jet head unit that can reduce the trouble of having to accurately position and fix each ink jet head unit with respect to a fixation member, and a method for manufacturing an ink jet head unit. An ink jet head is provided with: a recording section (11) having nozzles for ejecting ink; and a recording section support member (121) that holds the recording section in a prescribed positional relationship. The recording section support member has a first contact surface 1211 a, a second contact surface 1211b, and a third contact surface 1212a for setting a fixation position and a fixation angle with respect to a prescribed fixation member (200) in a plane parallel to a nozzle opening surface (11a) having nozzle openings, with contact plates (123 to 125) bonded to abutment surfaces of the contact surfaces for adjusting the amount of positional deviation of the recording section with respect to the recording section support member.