Ink Jet Hydrodynamic Deflection via Dual Reservoir Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous ink jet printers face challenges in efficiently sorting drops without requiring high-voltage charge and deviation electrodes, which are costly and bulky, and existing methods like heating resistance around nozzles are complex and insufficient for effective drop sorting.
Innovation Solution
A print head design with two reservoirs on either side of a nozzle, where different pressures applied to each reservoir create a pressure difference to hydrodynamically deflect the jet, eliminating the need for charge and deviation electrodes and heating resistance, using piezo-electric or mechanical means to control pressure variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If high-voltage charge and deviation electrodes are used for drop sorting, then drop sorting capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex high-voltage charge and deviation electrodes from the system, extracting only the essential function of drop sorting. Instead of using electrical fields, the invention employs a purely hydraulic approach with a single reservoir and pressure control means, eliminating unnecessary components while maintaining the core functionality of sorting drops for printing versus recycling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical field-based sorting mechanism with a mechanical/hydraulic system. By using pressure control means (such as a pump or pressure regulator) to create pressure differences between the reservoir and ambient pressure, the system achieves drop deflection through hydraulic forces rather than electrical forces, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture.
2Ease of operation
If heating resistance is placed around nozzles for jet deflection, then some deflection is achieved, but the method is complex and insufficient for effective drop sorting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field-based deflection method (heating resistance) with a hydraulic field-based method. Instead of using heat to alter jet properties and achieve deflection, the invention directly controls the hydraulic pressure in the reservoir to generate the necessary forces for effective drop sorting, providing both simpler implementation and sufficient deflection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the controlling parameter from temperature (in the heating resistance method) to pressure (in the reservoir). By varying the pressure parameter through pressure control means, the system achieves effective drop sorting without the complexity and insufficiency of thermal methods. This parameter change enables direct and controllable hydraulic deflection of the ink jet.
3Device complexity
If a single reservoir system is used with pressure control, then device complexity is reduced, but pressure variation control must be precise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pressure control means (such as a pump or pressure regulator) that automatically maintain the required pressure differential between the reservoir and ambient pressure. The system self-regulates the pressure variations needed for drop sorting, reducing the burden on external control systems and minimizing the precision requirements for manual adjustment or manufacturing tolerances.
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 design simplifies the sorting process, reduces costs, and achieves sufficient drop deviation angles (3° to 10°) for effective printing and recycling, while preventing nozzle blockage by allowing solvent flow around debris.
Implementation Method 1
first means for applying a 1st pressure to the 1st reservoir, or to the ink from the, or coming from, the, 1st reservoir, and second means for applying a 2nd pressure to the 2nd reservoir, or ink from the, or coming from, the, 2nd reservoir, the 2 pressures being able to be different to each other
Implementation Method 2
the jet being deflected from its natural trajectory of ejection from the drop generator under the action of a pressure difference between the 1st pressure and the 2nd pressure
Implementation Method 3
the means for applying a variable pressure to the reservoir are piezo-electric means
Data Source
AI summary
The invention firstly relates to a print head of a continuous ink jet printer, comprising a first reservoir (12) and a second reservoir (22), arranged on either side of least one jet ejection nozzle (30, 301-30n) to which they are connected, and a first actuator (16, 161-16n) for applying a 1st pressure to the ink of the, or coming from the, 1st reservoir, and a second actuator (26, 261-26n) for applying a 2nd pressure to the ink of the, or coming from the, 2nd reservoir, and a controller for controlling these first and second actuators, said controller being programmed to apply a variable difference between these 2 pressures.