Inkjet Head Chip Electrode Layout for Higher Chamber Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head chips in inkjet printers face challenges in effectively transferring elastic energy to the ink due to reduced rigidity of partition walls, leading to insufficient pressure generation in pressure chambers, especially with increased nozzle density.
Innovation Solution
The head chip design includes an actuator plate with drive electrodes that generate electric fields in both the thickness and crossing directions, allowing for deformation modes such as shear and bend, and incorporates grooves to facilitate partition wall deformation, ensuring efficient energy transfer to the ink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the width of the partition wall is narrowed to increase nozzle density, then the nozzle density is improved, but the rigidity of the partition wall deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator plate is divided into multiple independent pressure chambers separated by partition walls. Each pressure chamber can deform independently, allowing the partition walls to be narrow yet maintain sufficient rigidity through optimized thickness and material properties, thus achieving high nozzle density without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are designed with locally optimized properties where the thickness and material composition are tailored to provide sufficient rigidity only in the regions where structural support is needed, while allowing flexibility in regions where deformation is required for ink ejection. This enables narrow partition walls to maintain adequate rigidity.
2Ease of operation
If the partition wall rigidity is reduced to allow deformation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of energy increases due to elastic energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness and material properties of the partition walls are optimized to achieve the right balance between rigidity and flexibility. By carefully controlling the thickness parameter, the partition walls can deform sufficiently to allow ink ejection while minimizing elastic energy absorption, thus reducing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are designed to dynamically adjust their rigidity based on operational conditions. During ink ejection, they deform to facilitate liquid flow, then return to their original position, minimizing energy loss through optimized elastic recovery characteristics.
3Stress or pressure
If the actuator plate deforms in multiple directions, then the pressure generation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates pressure through deformation, controls ink flow through partition wall movement, and enables multi-directional expansion. By integrating these functions into a single component, the design achieves improved pressure generation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive electrodes are integrated directly into the actuator plate structure, combining the actuation mechanism with the pressure-generating element. This merging eliminates the need for separate actuation components, achieving multi-directional deformation capability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
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 enhances pressure generation in the pressure chamber, improves manufacturing efficiency, and reduces costs by effectively transferring elastic energy, resulting in improved jet performance and quality.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator plate formed of a piezoelectric material which closes one surface of each of the pressure chambers
Implementation Method 2
deform the actuator plate in the thickness direction and a crossing direction crossing the thickness direction to expand or contract a volume of the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A head chip, a liquid jet head, and a liquid jet recording device which effectively transfer elastic energy to ink in a pressure chamber to increase pressure to be generated in the pressure chamber are provided. The head chip according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an actuator plate provided with a pressure chamber in which a liquid is contained, a jet hole plate which has a jet hole communicated with the pressure chamber, and which is overlapped on the actuator plate in a thickness direction of the actuator plate, and a drive electrode which is configured to generate an electric field in the actuator plate to thereby deform the actuator plate in the thickness direction and a crossing direction crossing the thickness direction to expand or contract a volume of the pressure chamber.