Inkjet Printhead Filter with Elevated Inlet Bubble Trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed pagewidth inkjet printers face challenges in ink supply and distribution due to increased flow rates and complexity, leading to issues like air bubbles and reduced print quality, which are exacerbated by the need for compact design.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a printhead with a support structure featuring ink conduits and fluidic dampers that use gas compression to dissipate pressure pulses, along with weir formations and pulse dampers distributed along the printhead, to manage ink flow and prevent nozzle flooding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter surface area is increased to accommodate air bubbles, then ink flow reliability is improved, but the device size increases and compact design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple segments arranged in parallel, each segment handling a portion of the ink flow. This segmentation allows the ink flow path to be distributed across multiple smaller filter surfaces, improving reliability by providing alternative paths when air bubbles block one segment, while keeping individual filter segments compact in size.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary chamber is introduced between the ink supply and the printhead, containing multiple filter segments arranged in parallel. This intermediary structure allows ink to flow through multiple filter paths simultaneously, providing redundancy against air bubble blockage while maintaining a compact overall design through efficient spatial arrangement.
2Productivity
If pagewidth printhead design is used to increase print speed, then productivity is improved, but ink supply complexity and flow rate requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ink supply system is segmented into multiple independent flow channels, each serving a specific region of the pagewidth printhead. This segmentation simplifies the ink supply complexity by breaking down the large-scale supply problem into multiple smaller, more manageable flow paths, while still supporting high-speed printing across the entire pagewidth array.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink supply architecture transitions from a single-dimensional linear supply to a multi-dimensional distributed network of parallel channels. This dimensional change allows ink to be delivered efficiently across the entire pagewidth printhead surface, supporting high productivity while managing supply complexity through spatial distribution.
3Quantity of substance
If air bubbles are present in the ink flow, then filter wetted surface area is reduced, but ink flow rate decreases and print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the filter system are designed with different properties - some filter segments are positioned and sized to specifically trap air bubbles, while other segments are optimized for high-volume ink flow. This local differentiation allows the system to simultaneously handle air bubble removal and maintain high ink flow rates, preventing print quality deterioration.
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 supply and prevents nozzle flooding, maintaining high print quality while preserving a compact design by effectively damping pressure spikes and ensuring reliable priming of the printhead.
Implementation Method 1
a fluidic damper containing gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink within the ink conduits to dissipate the pressure pulse
Implementation Method 2
the transition face being configured to inhibit from filling the cavity and purging the gas by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A filter for an inkjet printer that has a chamber divided into an upstream section and a downstream section by a filter membrane. An inlet conduit establishes fluid communication between an ink supply and the upstream section. An outlet conduit establishes fluid communication between the downstream section and a printhead. During use at least part of the inlet conduit is elevated relative to the filter membrane. By elevating the inlet conduit relative to the filter membrane, it acts as a bubble trap to retain bubbles that would otherwise obstruct the filter. This allows the filter size to be reduced for a more compact overall design.