Inkjet Chip Preheating Control for High-Viscosity Binder Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing modules for rapid prototyping require additional components to handle high-viscosity liquid binders, increasing module size and cost, and lack efficient preheating control for ink cartridges.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet chip features a staggered arrangement of liquid ejectors with heating resistors and a control circuit that allows for efficient preheating and ink ejection, maintaining the original module size and reducing costs by integrating preheating control signals with print data signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an additional ink cartridge is added to contain high-viscosity liquid binder, then the inkjet printing module can perform rapid prototyping printing, but the module size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the high-viscosity liquid binder storage and ejection functions into the existing ink cartridge structure. The ink cartridge is modified to include both color ink and liquid binder in separate chambers, eliminating the need for an additional dedicated cartridge for binder storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink cartridge is designed to perform multiple functions: storing and ejecting both color ink and high-viscosity liquid binder. The heating element and ejection mechanism serve dual purposes for handling different types of materials with different viscosity characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an additional ink cartridge is added to contain high-viscosity liquid binder, then the inkjet printing module can perform rapid prototyping printing, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the high-viscosity liquid binder storage and ejection functions into the existing ink cartridge structure. The ink cartridge is modified to include both color ink and liquid binder in separate chambers, eliminating the need for an additional dedicated cartridge for binder storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink cartridge is designed to perform multiple functions: storing and ejecting both color ink and high-viscosity liquid binder. The heating element and ejection mechanism serve dual purposes for handling different types of materials with different viscosity characteristics.
3Productivity
If conventional inkjet printing is used without preheating, then the structure is simple, but the printing quality and speed are insufficient for high-viscosity materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preheating function that activates before the ejection process. The heating element raises the temperature of the liquid binder to appropriate viscosity levels before ejection, ensuring optimal printing performance. This preliminary thermal preparation is controlled through dedicated preheating control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the liquid binder through controlled heating. By adjusting the temperature, the viscosity of the high-viscosity liquid binder is modified to enable proper ejection and printing quality, with the heating controlled through specific control signals.
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 solution enhances preheating efficiency, minimizes the inkjet chip's size and production costs, and improves printing speed and quality without altering the original printing module design.
Implementation Method 1
the heating resistor heats a part of the print ink to generate a bubble and eject the print ink through the nozzle of the inkjet chip
Implementation Method 2
the heating resistor heats a part of the print ink to generate a bubble
Implementation Method 3
the heating resistor preheats a part of the print ink and the inkjet chip
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An inkjet chip (223, 223x, 223y, 423, 423x, 423y) of printing module (1, 2) of a rapid prototyping apparatus and a control circuit (3) thereof are disclosed. The inkjet chip (223, 223x, 223y, 423, 423x, 423y) has a length (Ld2) and a width (Wd2) to define a total area including an unwiring area and a wiring area. The unwiring area has at least three liquid supply slots (224, 224a, 224b, 224c, 224d, 224x, 224ax, 224bx, 224cx, 224dx, 224y, 224ay, 224by, 224cy, 224dy, 424, 424a, 424b, 424c, 424x, 424ax, 424bx, 424cx, 424y, 424ay, 424by, 424cy) in parallel with each other and respectively connected to one of the ink chambers (225, 226, 227, 225x, 226x, 227x, 225y, 226y, 227y, 425, 426, 427, 425x, 426x, 427x, 425y, 426y, 427y) of the modular ink cartridge (22, 22X, 22Y, 42, 42X, 42Y). The wiring area has a control circuit (3). The control circuit (3) includes a plurality of liquid ejectors (228, 37). Each liquid ejector (228, 37) has a heating resistor (228b, 371), a driving transistor (372), and a nozzle (228a). The control circuit (3) is connected to receive a power signal (S), a printing data signal (PD), a preheating data signal (PFD), a preheating control signal (PF), a reverse preheating control signal(PF-N), a heating control signal (MF), and a reverse heating control signal (MF-N) and connected with the common connection node (COM) for controlling the liquid ejector (228b, 371).