Inkjet Ejection Member Pressure Equalization via Filter Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid supply mechanisms for inkjet recording apparatuses experience pressure variations in ejection members when supply passages branch, leading to inconsistent ink ejection pressures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply mechanism with a tank, supply passage, and ejection member that includes a filter with predetermined passage resistance and a check valve opened at a specific pressure, ensuring equalized pressures across ejection members by decompressing the liquid flow through the filter and controlling the check valve opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the supply passage is branched into multiple supply passages to serve multiple ejection members, then the liquid can be supplied to multiple ejection members, but the pressures of the liquid flowing in the branched supply passages vary, causing inconsistent ejection pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressure equalization chamber that provides a common pressure zone for all branched supply passages. Each ejection member still receives liquid through its own passage, but all passages draw from the same pressurized chamber, ensuring uniform pressure distribution across all ejection members despite the branched configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equalization chamber acts as an intermediary between the main liquid supply and the multiple branched supply passages. It mediates the pressure distribution by receiving liquid from the supply passage and distributing it uniformly to all ejection members, eliminating pressure variations that would otherwise occur in directly branched passages.
2Reliability
If bubbles accumulate in the supply passage, then the check valve opens at predetermined pressure to release bubbles, but this causes interruptions in liquid supply and affects ejection consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equalization chamber maintains continuous liquid supply to all ejection members even when the check valve opens for bubble removal. Since multiple ejection members share the same chamber, if one member experiences brief interruption during bubble release, others continue to receive liquid, ensuring overall continuous operation of the ejection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equalization chamber acts as a cushion that stores pressurized liquid in advance. When the check valve opens for bubble removal, the chamber's stored pressure compensates for the temporary pressure drop, preventing complete interruption of liquid supply to ejection members and maintaining ejection consistency.
3Stress or pressure
If a filter with predetermined passage resistance is added to decompress liquid flow, then pressure can be equalized across ejection members, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is merged with the pressure equalization chamber into a single integrated component. Rather than adding a separate filter element to the existing system, the filter is built into the chamber structure itself, allowing pressure equalization and filtration functions to be combined in one element, thus reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equalization chamber serves multiple functions: it equalizes pressure across all branched supply passages, filters liquid through its built-in filter, and provides a common pressurized reservoir for all ejection members. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.
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 ensures consistent ink ejection pressures across ejection members, reducing variations and preventing bubble accumulation, thereby improving the reliability and quality of inkjet recording.
Implementation Method 1
A filter with a predetermined passage resistance to a passing liquid is provided in each of the ejection members
Implementation Method 2
The check valve is opened at a predetermined opening pressure for bubbles accumulated in the supply passage
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid supply mechanism includes a tank configured to store liquid, a supply passage having an end connected to the tank so as to allow the liquid to flow, and an ejection member disposed on the supply passage so as to eject the liquid. The ejection member includes a filter, a check valve, and an ejection passage. The filter has a predetermined passage resistance to the passing liquid. The check valve is opened at a predetermined opening pressure for the passing liquid. The ejection passage allows the liquid to flow when the check valve is opened and ejects the liquid from an ejection port formed at a tip thereof. A pressure decompressed by the passage resistance of the filter is larger than the opening pressure of the check valve.