Inkjet Head Common Ink Path Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording devices face temperature differences between pressure chambers due to non-uniform thermal conditions, affecting ink temperature and image quality.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet head design features a common ink ejection path extending along the outer surfaces, with individual ink ejection paths connecting to pressure chambers in adjacent rows, and air chambers alternately disposed to improve ink circulation and thermal conductivity, ensuring balanced thermal conditions across the head chip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If common ink ejection paths are arranged in the outermost zones adjacent to outer surfaces, then thermal conditions become more uniform across pressure chambers, but the complexity of flow path design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning common ink ejection paths specifically in outermost zones adjacent to outer surfaces of the head chip, rather than uniformly distributing them. This localized arrangement creates thermal conduction paths that specifically address temperature uniformity issues at the boundaries, where thermal gradients are most pronounced. The selective placement of flow paths in outer zones provides targeted thermal management without requiring complete redesign of the entire flow path system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional planar arrangement of flow paths to a three-dimensional zoned configuration. By dividing the head chip into outermost zones and central zones, and positioning common ink ejection paths specifically in the outermost zones, the invention adds a spatial dimensionality to thermal management. This zoned approach allows independent optimization of thermal conditions in different regions, addressing temperature uniformity through dimensional stratification rather than uniform planar distribution.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple rows of nozzles and pressure chambers are disposed between outer surfaces, then more nozzles can be accommodated, but temperature differences between pressure chambers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces common ink ejection paths in outermost zones as intermediary thermal conduction paths. These intermediaries serve as thermal bridges between the outer surfaces and the pressure chambers in multiple rows, facilitating heat transfer that equalizes temperatures across the head chip. The common ink ejection paths act as mediator structures that connect the thermal fields of different nozzle rows, allowing thermal equilibrium without reducing the number of nozzle rows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the hydraulic properties of circulating ink in common ink ejection paths to achieve thermal management. The flowing ink acts as a heat transfer medium, carrying thermal energy from warmer regions to cooler regions through the outermost zones. This hydraulic thermal conduction mechanism allows multiple rows of nozzles to be accommodated while maintaining temperature uniformity, as the circulating ink dynamically balances thermal conditions across all pressure chambers regardless of their position.
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 configuration alleviates temperature differences between pressure chambers, stabilizing ink temperature and enhancing image quality by equalizing thermal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the common ink ejection path is disposed only in outermost zones adjacent to the respective two outer surfaces without the plurality of rows in between... This configuration alleviates temperature differences between pressure chambers, stabilizing ink temperature and enhancing image quality by equalizing thermal conditions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
In order to alleviate imbalances in temperature in the pressure chambers inside of a head tip, this inkjet head is provided with multiple nozzles 111 which inject ink, pressure chambers 131 which communicate with each of the nozzles and in which ink is stored, a pressure generating means (the partition wall 136) which pressurizes the ink in the pressure chamber, individual ink discharge paths 121 which are provided branching from each of the pressure chambers and which can discharge the ink in said pressure chambers, and a common ink discharge path 133 which to which the individual ink discharge paths are linked. The nozzles and pressure chambers form rows R1 to R4 in a direction along two opposite outer surfaces DS of the head chip 1, and said rows are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface. The common ink discharge path 133 is provided extending in a direction along the two outer surfaces. The common ink discharge path is arranged only in two outermost regions (D1+D2), which are near one outer surface and do not have the aforementioned rows R1-R4 interposed therebetween, and/or a center region D4 between the two outer surfaces.