Inkjet Head Thermal Management via Heat Dissipation Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

The heat generated by the driving substrate in inkjet recording devices causes ink viscosity to decrease and nozzle expansion, leading to poor image quality due to heat transmission and positional changes.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet head design where the ink tank functions as a heat sink, dissipating heat from the driving substrate and discharging it outside, while also efficiently guiding ink flow to prevent heat-induced ink ejection issues and nozzle misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the driving substrate is positioned close to the ink ejector for compact design, then device integration is improved, but heat transmission to the ink causes viscosity decrease and ejection failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice integrationVSAvoidink ejection performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A heat dissipation plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the driving substrate and the ink ejector. This plate serves as a thermal barrier that blocks heat transmission from the driving substrate to the ink, while still allowing the compact integrated design to be maintained. The heat dissipation plate is specifically positioned to cover the ink ejector opening, creating a protective barrier against thermal effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The driving substrate's heat, which originally causes harmful effects on the ink, is redirected to be useful for heating the ink tank. By positioning the heat dissipation plate to cover both the ink ejector and the ink tank, the heat that would otherwise damage the ink is instead used to maintain optimal ink temperature in the tank, converting a harmful thermal effect into a beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Power

If the driving substrate generates heat during operation, then driving circuit functionality is maintained, but nozzle expansion occurs causing positional changes and image quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving circuit functionalityVSAvoidnozzle position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heat dissipation plate acts as a physical barrier and thermal mediator between the driving substrate and the ink ejector components. It selectively blocks heat from reaching the ink ejector and nozzles, preventing thermal expansion and positional drift, while allowing the driving circuit to continue operating with full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If heat is transmitted to the ink in the ink ejector, then thermal energy transfer occurs, but ink viscosity decreases leading to ejection failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transmissionVSAvoidink ejection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat dissipation plate is positioned as a thermal barrier between the heat source (driving substrate) and the ink ejector. This intermediary structure blocks the transmission of thermal energy to the ink, maintaining stable ink viscosity and ensuring reliable ejection performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat that would otherwise harmfully increase ink temperature and decrease viscosity is redirected to usefully heat the ink in the ink tank, maintaining optimal ink properties for ejection while preventing harmful thermal effects at the ejection point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Effectively suppresses the decrease in image quality by managing heat dissipation and maintaining stable ink ejection, ensuring consistent nozzle positioning and improved image quality.

Implementation Method 1

a heat dissipation plate which blocks heat from the driving substrate from reaching the ink ejector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat blocking: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

heat dissipation plate which blocks heat from the driving substrate from reaching the ink ejector and dissipates the heat to the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3848204B1Inkjet head and inkjet recording device
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP3848204B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3848204B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3848204B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided are an inkjet head and an inkjet recording device with which it is possible to effectively suppress image quality reduction caused by the heat of a drive substrate. The inkjet head comprises: an ink discharge unit in which the opening of a nozzle that discharges ink is provided to an ink discharge surface, the ink discharge unit having an operation element that performs an operation for discharging ink from the opening of the nozzle; a drive substrate in which a drive circuit is provided for driving the operation element; and an ink tank in which ink supplied to the ink discharge unit is stored, the ink tank being provided in an aspect in which a prescribed surface of the outer surface of the ink tank is provided along the drive substrate, and the heat of the drive substrate is propagated to the prescribed surface.