Inkjet Printer Filter Chamber Air Bubble Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face issues with air bubble attachment to filters, leading to increased pressure losses and potential print failures, as existing solutions either inefficiently discharge air bubbles or require materials with flexibility that compromise with vapor and gas percolation.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printer design featuring a filter chamber with an air bubble storage unit positioned above the ink supply opening, where the ink supply and discharge openings are angled to direct air bubbles away from the filter, and a suction mechanism that expands air bubbles for efficient discharge, reducing the need for flexible materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ink flow amount is increased to improve printing efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the pressure in the filter portion is decreased causing air bubbles to expand and be again involved in the ink stream
Solution Approach 1:
The filter portion is divided into a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the second portion. This segmentation creates different pressure zones that prevent air bubble expansion even when ink flow amount increases, allowing high productivity while maintaining reliable air bubble separation.
2Productivity
If a deformable member is pressed against the filter to improve air bubble discharge efficiency, then air bubble discharge efficiency is improved, but gas percolation through the deformable member causes air bubbles to grow inhibiting recovery interval extension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air bubble discharge function from the filter structure by providing a separate discharge portion with a discharge hole. This allows air bubbles to be discharged efficiently through the dedicated discharge path without requiring gas percolation through flexible materials, thus extending the recovery interval while maintaining high discharge efficiency.
3Device complexity
If the ink supply opening and ink discharge opening are arranged on a straight line to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but air bubbles attach to the filter reducing effective area and increasing pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The ink supply opening and ink discharge opening are arranged asymmetrically relative to the filter, not on a straight line. This asymmetric arrangement creates a flow pattern that directs air bubbles away from the filter surface, preventing attachment and maintaining filter effective area, while the overall structure remains relatively simple.
4Loss of substance
If the recovery interval is extended to reduce waste ink, then loss of substance is reduced, but air bubbles accumulate on the filter causing pressure loss increase and print failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic recovery operations at optimized intervals. The asymmetric opening arrangement and dedicated discharge portion enable efficient air bubble removal during each recovery cycle, allowing longer intervals between recoveries (reducing waste ink) while preventing air bubble accumulation that would cause print failures.
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 effectively prevents air bubble attachment to the filter, maintaining the filter's effective area, extending the recovery interval, and reducing waste ink by efficiently managing air bubble storage and discharge.
Implementation Method 1
the suction means expands the air bubble stored in the air bubble storage unit to a size equal to or more than that of the second room
Implementation Method 2
a filter disposed in the middle of the ink flow passage... for removing foreign objects and air bubbles in the ink flow passage
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes an ink tank for retaining ink, nozzles for ejecting the ink, an ink flow passage for connecting the ink tank and the nozzles, and a filter chamber in which a filter is arranged. A first room is disposed downstream of the filter and a second room is disposed upstream of filter in the filter chamber. An ink discharge opening is disposed in the first room for supplying the ink to the nozzles. An ink supply opening to which the ink is supplied from the ink tank and an air bubble storage unit for storing air bubbles flowing with the ink are disposed in the second room. The ink supply opening and the ink discharge opening are displaced from each other in a horizontal direction. The air bubble storage unit is arranged upward of the ink discharge opening in such a manner as to sandwich the filter therebetween.