Inkjet Head Base Plate Hole Extraction for Soft Material Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing inkjet heads of the side shooter type require base plates made of hard materials due to the risk of damage from holes, limiting material selection and increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet head design incorporates a base member made of low-purity alumina with a unique configuration of side surfaces and a dividing groove, allowing for the use of soft materials and reducing the need for holes in the base plate, which enables the use of a wider range of materials and simplifies manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the base plate is formed of a hard material to prevent damage from holes, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the material selection is limited and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the holes from the base plate and relocates them to a separate through-flow plate. This allows the base plate to be made of soft materials without holes, eliminating the risk of hole-induced damage while maintaining ink flow functionality through the separate plate with holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is divided into multiple layers: a soft base plate layer, a through-flow plate layer with holes, and a nozzle plate layer. This segmentation allows each layer to have optimized properties - the soft base plate for comfort and cost, the through-flow plate for structural support and ink flow, and the nozzle plate for ejection functionality.
2Strength
If the base plate is formed of a hard material to prevent damage from holes, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holes are extracted from the base plate and placed in a separate through-flow plate. This allows the base plate to be manufactured as a simple, hole-free component using cost-effective methods, while the through-flow plate with holes can be manufactured separately and assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is combined with a through-flow plate having holes and a nozzle plate to form an integrated inkjet head assembly. This merging of components allows the base plate to be made of inexpensive soft materials while the assembled structure provides the necessary strength and functionality.
3Productivity
If holes are provided in the base plate for ink supply, then the ink flow functionality is achieved, but the base plate material must be hard to prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
The holes are extracted from the base plate and relocated to a separate through-flow plate. This maintains the ink supply capability through the through-flow plate while allowing the base plate to be made of soft, damage-resistant materials without holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The through-flow plate acts as an intermediary component between the base plate and the ink ejection system. It provides the hole structure for ink flow while the base plate provides a soft, protective foundation, separating the conflicting requirements of hole presence and material softness.
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 allows for the reduction in size and thickness of the inkjet head, increased manufacturability, and the ability to use soft materials for the base plate, while maintaining efficient ink ejection and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a driving element configured with a piezoelectric element... The driving element applied with the voltage is deformed and ejects the ink from the nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a base, a driving element, a nozzle plate, electrodes, wires, a supplying unit, and a discharging unit. The base includes an attachment surface and a side surface crossing the attachment surface. The driving element is attached to the attachment surface and includes pressure chambers. The nozzle plate is attached to the driving element and includes nozzles opened to the pressure chambers. The electrodes are provided in the pressure chambers. The wires are provided on the side surface and connected to the electrodes. The supplying unit is connected to the pressure chambers and supplies ink to the pressure chambers. The discharging unit is connected to the pressure chambers and discharges the ink from the pressure chambers.