Inkjet Head Thermal Insulation Seal Agent Gap Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet heads face issues with heat conduction from the drive IC affecting the viscosity of ink and the ejection characteristics, and the presence of a gap between the heat sink and mask part allows ink intrusion, leading to adhesion and connection failures during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A seal agent with thermal insulation properties is used to seal the gap between the heat sink and mask part, preventing heat conduction and ink intrusion, while a pressure releasing part is incorporated to manage pressure variations due to temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a gap is provided between the heat sink and mask part to prevent heat conduction to the actuator part, then the ejection characteristic is maintained, but ink intrudes through the gap during use or maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
A seal agent is introduced as an intermediary substance to fill the gap between the heat sink and mask part. The seal agent simultaneously provides thermal insulation to prevent heat conduction to the actuator part and acts as a physical barrier to prevent ink intrusion during use or maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal agent performs multiple functions: it provides thermal insulation to protect the actuator part from heat, prevents ink from intruding through the gap, and maintains structural integrity during assembly and maintenance. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction by making a single component address both thermal protection and contamination prevention.
2Productivity
If the drive IC operates continuously to maintain ejection function, then productivity is improved, but heat generation increases causing ink viscosity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generation problem is isolated by extracting the heat sink function from the general structure and implementing it as a dedicated thermal management component. The heat sink is positioned to be in thermal contact with the drive IC, allowing continuous operation while managing heat through the designed thermal path that prevents heat reaching the actuator part.
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 prevents heat-induced changes in ink viscosity and ejection characteristics, reduces ink intrusion, and ensures accurate assembly and operation of the inkjet head by maintaining a precise distance between components.
Implementation Method 1
a seal agent which seals the gap of the mask part and has thermal insulation properties
Implementation Method 2
the heat generated in the drive IC is radiated to the outside through the frame body side wall as a heat sink in contact with the drive IC
Implementation Method 3
an actuator part which is provided at an opening of the frame part at the other end and includes a piezoelectric element to eject ink from a nozzle hole of an ink chamber facing outside in response to an external signal
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a mask part which covers a periphery of an actuator part in a state where a nozzle hole is exposed to outside and a peripheral edge part of which is opposite to an opening peripheral edge part of a frame part at other end while a gap is kept, and the gap between the peripheral edge part of the mask part and the opening peripheral edge part of the frame part at the other end is sealed with a seal agent having thermal insulation properties.