Integrally Molded Resin-Metal Substrate for Inkjet Head Bending Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet heads face challenges in controlling the bending of the liquid chamber-forming substrate due to thermal expansion, leading to increased size and reduced accuracy, as the incorporation of metal plates for rigidity complicates the manufacturing process and results in larger dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A droplet discharge head design featuring a nozzle plate, actuator substrate, and a common liquid chamber-forming substrate with a metal plate sandwiched between two resin plates, integrally molded in the thickness direction, which reduces thermal expansion and maintains rigidity without increasing the overall size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a metal plate is buried in the resin member of the weir and partition to improve rigidity, then the bending of the flow passage-forming substrate is controlled, but the size of the ink jet head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters of the flow passage-forming substrate by incorporating glass fiber reinforcement into the resin material. This parameter change increases the rigidity and dimensional stability of the substrate, enabling it to resist thermal expansion and bending without requiring additional metal reinforcement plates, thus avoiding an increase in head size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining resin with glass fiber reinforcement to create a flow passage-forming substrate with enhanced mechanical properties. This composite structure provides the necessary rigidity and thermal stability to control substrate bending while maintaining a compact head design without metal plates
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rigidity of the flow passage-forming substrate is improved by burying a metal plate, then the bending due to temperature change is controlled, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials made of resin and glass fiber that can be directly molded as an integrated component. This approach eliminates the need for separate metal plate insertion and bonding steps, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving the desired rigidity and bending control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the reinforcement function into the substrate material itself by using glass fiber-reinforced resin. This integration combines the structural support and flow passage formation into a single molded component, reducing manufacturing steps and eliminating the need for separate metal reinforcement plates
3Ease of manufacture
If the space between the metal plate and injection-molding mold is increased to allow resin injection, then the weir and partition can be formed, but the thickness from the inner wall surface to the metal plate surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses glass fiber-reinforced resin that provides enhanced strength and rigidity, allowing for thinner substrate designs. This composite material enables sufficient structural support with reduced thickness, eliminating the need for thick spacing required when using metal plates in injection molding
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 configuration effectively controls the bending of the common liquid chamber-forming substrate while preventing an increase in size, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of ink discharge and image formation.
Implementation Method 1
There is a difference between a linear expansion coefficient of a resin material for use in the liquid chamber-forming substrate and a linear expansion coefficient of a metal material for use in the nozzle plate or the vibration plate. For this reason, the liquid chamber-forming substrate bends due to a change in an environmental temperature or an operation temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet discharge head includes a nozzle plate provided with a nozzle opening which discharges an ink drop, an actuator substrate which forms a pressurized liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle opening, and is provided with a pressure generator changing a pressure in the pressured liquid chamber, and a common liquid chamber-forming substrate which forms a common liquid chamber to which ink which is supplied to the pressurized liquid chamber is supplied, the common liquid chamber-forming substrate includes a first plate made of a metal material, a second plate made of a resin material provided on one surface of the first plate, and a third plate made of a resin material provided on the other surface of the first plate, and the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate being integrally molded in a thickness direction.