Inkjet Head Unit With Stepped Abutting Faces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet head units face challenges in maintaining uniform nozzle distances from a curved recording surface, leading to variations in ink droplet travel distance and impact accuracy, which affects image quality due to airflow interference and manufacturing complexities such as curved nozzle plates and complicated configurations.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet head unit features a tabular head unit base with stepped abutting faces that allow head chips to be inclined, reducing distance variations without curving the nozzle plate or base, and incorporating independent pressure generation modules for each nozzle, enabling precise adjustment of the inclination angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the nozzle column is lengthened to obtain a desired recording width, then the recording width is improved, but the uniformity of jetting characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inkjet head is divided into multiple head chips, each with a small width and uniform jetting characteristics. These head chips are arranged in a zigzag pattern on a common head unit base to achieve the desired recording width while maintaining uniformity across the entire nozzle array.
Solution Approach 2:
The head chips are arranged in a zigzag pattern rather than a straight line, introducing a dimensional variation in the arrangement. This zigzag configuration allows the nozzles to be distributed over a wider area while maintaining consistent jetting characteristics by optimizing the spatial distribution of nozzles across multiple head chips.
2Manufacturing precision
If the head unit base is made thin to arrange the nozzle face close to the recording surface, then the recording precision is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit base is formed with a curved surface that corresponds to the curvature of the rotary drum. This curvature allows the nozzle face to be positioned close to the recording surface across the entire width of the head, while the arch-like structure provides inherent structural strength, eliminating the need for a thick base.
Solution Approach 2:
The head unit base has different thickness distributions at different locations. The base is thinner at the center where the nozzle face needs to be close to the recording surface, and thicker at the edges to provide structural support. This localized variation in thickness optimizes both recording precision and structural strength.
3Manufacturing precision
If piezoelectric actuators are used to adjust the inclination of the head chip, then the inclination adjustment precision is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The head chip is pre-inclined at a predetermined angle during the manufacturing process. This preliminary inclination is built into the head chip structure itself, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms like piezoelectric actuators during operation, while still achieving the desired inclination precision for matching the drum curvature.
Data Source
AI summary
The object is to provide an inkjet head unit having: head chips having nozzles arranged on nozzle faces, and capable of discharging ink by respective independent pressure generating module from pressure chambers communicating with the nozzles; and a tabular head unit base on which the head chips are arranged and which is capable of holding the head chips, of abutting faces of the head unit base and the head chip, at least one of the abutting face on the head unit base side and the abutting face on the head chip side is formed in a stepped shape, so that the height of the abutting face of the head chip relative to the surface of the head unit base is partially changed, and the head chip is thereby attached to be inclined relative to the surface of the head unit base.