Inkjet Head Chip Return Channel Layout for Compact Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet head chips face challenges in optimizing power consumption and flow channel resistance while maintaining desired ejection performance, leading to potential size enlargement in directions perpendicular to the ejection direction due to the circulation path extending only in directions perpendicular to the ejection direction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates first and second communication channels and connecting channels with varying dimensions and cross-sectional areas, allowing for adjustment of flow channel resistance without increasing the chip's size in the perpendicular direction, and includes a method of manufacturing the head chip with overlapping and adjusting channel dimensions to ensure smooth liquid flow and bubble discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the circulation path is elongated to adjust flow channel resistance, then the ejection performance is optimized, but the head chip size grows in the direction perpendicular to the ejection direction
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation path is configured to extend in the ejection direction (longitudinal dimension) rather than only in the direction perpendicular to ejection. The connecting channel extends in the ejection direction from the communication channel to the manifold, allowing flow resistance adjustment without increasing the transverse dimension of the head chip.
2Reliability
If the dimension of the communication channel is adjusted to adjust flow channel resistance, then the ejection performance is optimized, but the head chip size increases in the direction crossing the ejection direction
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adjusting the width (dimension crossing ejection direction) of the communication channel to modify flow resistance, the invention adjusts the length of the connecting channel in the ejection direction. This shifts the adjustment dimension from transverse to longitudinal, preventing area increase in the critical transverse dimension.
3Reliability
If the circulation path is extended to optimize power consumption and flow resistance, then ejection performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting channel and communication channel are merged into a continuous circulation path. The connecting channel extends in the ejection direction to connect the communication channel and manifold, creating an integrated flow path that achieves flow resistance adjustment without adding separate adjustment components or complex multi-directional pathways.
Data Source
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AI summary
There are provided a head chip, a liquid jet head, a liquid jet recording device, and a method of manufacturing the head chip each capable of achieving a reduction in size in a direction perpendicular to the ejection direction while ensuring the desired ejection performance. The head chip according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first ejection section, a jet hole plate arranged at a first side in a first direction of the first ejection section, a return plate which has a plurality of first communication channels configured to individually communicate a plurality of first jet channels and a plurality of first jet holes with each other, and which is arranged between the first ejection section and the jet hole plate in the first direction, and a flow channel plate which has a plurality of first connecting channels individually communicated with the plurality of first communication channels to constitute first return channels together with the corresponding first communication channels, and a manifold communicated in a lump with the plurality of first connecting channels, and which is arranged at a second side in the third direction of the first ejection section.