Ink-jet Head Pressure Chamber Dimension Accuracy via Segmented Plate Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ink-jet head technology experiences variations in ink-ejecting characteristics due to inaccuracies in pressure chamber formation, leading to uneven nozzle performance, as the holes forming the pressure chambers are etched in a relatively thick plate, resulting in inconsistent deformation and volume changes.
Innovation Solution
The ink-jet head is designed with a laminated structure of plates, where the outermost plate, being the thinnest, has pressure chambers formed with high dimension accuracy through etching, plating, or press working, ensuring consistent deformation and volume changes across nozzles, thereby stabilizing the ink-ejecting characteristic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If holes forming pressure chambers are etched in a relatively thick plate, then the structure is easier to manufacture, but the manufacturing precision of pressure chambers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage unit is divided into multiple plates (first plate, second plate, third plate, etc.) stacked together. The pressure chambers are formed by holes in the first plate (which has smaller thickness) rather than in a single thick plate. This segmentation allows the pressure chamber holes to be formed with higher precision in a thinner plate while maintaining structural integrity through the multi-plate construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from forming pressure chambers in a single thick plate (one-dimensional approach) to forming them across multiple stacked plates (multi-dimensional approach). By distributing the pressure chamber formation across several thinner plates in the stacking direction, the manufacturing precision is improved while the overall structure remains manufacturable.
2Ease of manufacture
If holes forming pressure chambers are etched in a relatively thick plate, then the structure is easier to manufacture, but the time required for etching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage unit is segmented into multiple plates with the pressure chambers formed in the first plate. Since the first plate has smaller thickness compared to a single thick plate, the etching time required to form the pressure chamber holes is reduced, while the overall structure is maintained through the stacked multi-plate configuration.
3Ease of manufacture
If holes forming pressure chambers are etched in a relatively thick plate, then the structure is easier to manufacture, but the dimension accuracy of pressure chambers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage unit is divided into multiple plates, and the pressure chambers are formed by holes in the first plate which has smaller thickness. This segmentation enables higher dimension accuracy in the pressure chamber holes because etching through a thinner plate produces more accurate dimensions compared to etching through a thick plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from forming pressure chambers in a single thick plate to forming them across multiple stacked plates. By utilizing the stacking dimension, the pressure chambers can be formed in thinner individual plates, achieving higher dimension accuracy while maintaining the overall structural requirements.
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 approach results in a consistent and stable ink-ejecting characteristic across all nozzles, reducing variations in pressure chamber volume changes and enhancing the overall performance of the ink-jet head.
Implementation Method 1
the piezoelectric sheet is interposed between the individual electrodes and the common electrode. When an electric field is selectively applied to areas of the piezoelectric sheet which are sandwiched between the respective individual electrodes and the common electrode, areas of the piezoelectric sheet respectively opposed to the pressure chambers selectively deform into a convex shape that protrudes toward the respective pressure chambers.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet head, including: a flow-passage unit having a laminated structure with a plurality of plates and including a plurality of nozzles, a common ink chamber, and a plurality of individual ink flow-passages each of which communicates the common ink chamber with a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles and in each of which a pressure chamber having an opening open in a surface of the flow-passage unit is provided; and an actuator fixed to the surface of the flow-passage unit so as to close the opening of the pressure chamber and operable to change a volume thereof, wherein the plurality of plates include an outermost plate nearest to the actuator and at least one plate contiguous to the outermost plate, wherein the pressure chamber is formed by a plurality of pressure-chamber-forming holes respectively provided in the outermost plate and the at least one plate so as to communicate with each other, and wherein the outermost plate has a smallest thickness among the plurality of plates.