Thermally Coupled Liquid Supply Manifolds for Ink Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid discharge apparatuses, temperature fluctuations caused by heat generated in driver ICs lead to unstable liquid discharge properties, which are mitigated by distributing temperature-controlled liquids to multiple heads but require effective thermal management to maintain consistent ink temperature.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus featuring a temperature-controlled liquid supply manifold thermally coupled to a standard liquid supply manifold, ensuring consistent ink temperature across multiple heads through a circulation system that includes a heat exchanger, cooler, and pump, with thermal coupling between the manifolds to reduce temperature gradients and maintain stable discharge properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature-controlled liquid is distributed to multiple heads, then liquid discharge stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature-controlled liquid supply manifold and the standard liquid supply manifold into a single integrated manifold structure. This merging allows thermal coupling between the manifolds to occur directly through their walls, eliminating the need for separate thermal coupling components while maintaining temperature control across multiple heads, thus improving liquid discharge stability without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated manifold acts as an intermediary structure that thermally couples the temperature-controlled liquid supply path with the standard liquid supply path. Through the manifold wall, heat is transferred from the temperature-controlled liquid to the standard liquid, stabilizing its temperature without requiring direct contact between the two liquid streams or additional thermal coupling components
2Measurement precision
If thermal coupling is implemented between manifolds, then temperature control precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifolds are merged into a single integrated component with internal channels for both temperature-controlled and standard liquid flow paths. The thermal coupling is achieved through the manifold wall itself, which conducts heat between the two liquid streams. This integration simplifies manufacturing compared to assembling separate manifolds with additional thermal coupling components, as it reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining temperature control precision
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 allows for quick temperature adjustment of ink, reduces startup time, and minimizes variations in ink discharge properties across heads, ensuring high image quality and maintaining nozzle density without increasing complexity or cost.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature-controlled liquid supply manifold is thermally coupled to the liquid supply manifold
Implementation Method 2
a circulation system that includes a heat exchanger, cooler, and pump
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a plurality of heads configured to discharge a liquid, a liquid supply manifold configured to distribute the liquid to the plurality of heads, and a temperature-controlled liquid supply manifold configured to supply a temperature-controlled liquid to the plurality of heads. The temperature-controlled liquid supply manifold is thermally coupled to the liquid supply manifold.