Inkjet Head Heating Plate for Uniform Nozzle Temperature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inkjet heads face challenges in minimizing ink temperature differences among nozzles, leading to inconsistent ink ejection rates and image quality, due to the complexity and cost of disposing multiple heaters and temperature sensors for each nozzle.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet head design featuring a single heating plate with heating elements and a temperature sensor, positioned between the back and front end parts, which heats both the front and back end parts to equalize ink temperature before ejection, reducing temperature differences among nozzles and simplifying the structure and manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple heaters and temperature sensors are disposed for each nozzle, then ink temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink temperature control precisionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating functions are merged into a single heating plate that heats the entire ink passage and nozzle assembly uniformly. Multiple temperature sensing functions are merged into a single temperature sensor that measures the overall ink temperature. This consolidation reduces the number of components while maintaining effective temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single heating plate serves multiple nozzles simultaneously, providing universal heating coverage across the entire inkjet head. The single temperature sensor monitors the overall ink temperature that affects all nozzles. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for individual heating and sensing elements for each nozzle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple heaters and temperature sensors are disposed for each nozzle, then ink temperature uniformity among nozzles is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink temperature uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The solution merges multiple heating and sensing functions into single components, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and tested. This significantly lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining temperature uniformity through the heating plate's design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating plate is designed to change the thermal parameters of the ink uniformly across all nozzles. By controlling the heating plate's temperature distribution and the ink flow characteristics, the system achieves uniform ink temperature among all nozzles without requiring individual heating elements for each nozzle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single heating plate is used to heat both back end part and front end part, then device complexity is reduced, but heating uniformity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidheating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating plate is designed with spatially varying heating characteristics, providing different heating intensities to different regions. The back end part (ink passage) and front end part (nozzles) receive appropriate heating levels according to their specific thermal requirements, achieving local optimization of heating uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heating plate provides continuous heating to both the ink passage and nozzles simultaneously, ensuring that the ink maintains uniform temperature throughout its entire path from the back end to the front end. This continuous heating action prevents temperature gradients that would compromise heating uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 effectively equalizes ink temperature among nozzles, improving image quality by reducing temperature differences and lowering manufacturing costs through a simpler and more efficient heating mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

The heating plate includes a heating element to produce heat by electricity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The heating plate conducts heat from the other side of plane so as to heat the front end part. The heating plate conducts heat from one side of plane so as to heat the back end part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11850864B2Inkjet head

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An inkjet head includes a back end part, a front end part, and a heating plate. The back end part includes an ink passage. The back end part is fed with ink and delivers the fed ink. The front end part is supplied with ink from the back end part. The front end part includes nozzles. The heating plate includes a heating element to produce heat by electricity. The heating plate is disposed between the back end part and the front end part. The heating plate conducts heat from the other side of plane so as to heat the front end part. The heating plate conducts heat from one side of plane so as to heat the back end part.