Inkjet Printhead Manifold Chamber with Distributed Feed Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet print heads suffer from insufficient ink replenishment in certain parts of the manifold chamber, leading to ink deterioration, phase separation, and reduced print quality due to stagnant ink, which can cause nozzle blockages and affect ink flow and supply.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an ink supply substrate with a flexible foil and intermediate element that forms a manifold chamber with ink supply openings on both sides, ensuring continuous ink flow and preventing dead zones, along with a filter area to remove particles and air bubbles, and support protrusions to minimize thermal expansion-induced deformations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a manifold chamber is arranged over the ink inlet surface with a single feed opening, then the structure is simple, but ink flow becomes insufficient in certain parts leading to stagnant zones
Solution Approach 1:
The single feed opening is divided into multiple feed openings distributed around the periphery of the manifold chamber. This segmentation allows ink to enter from multiple locations, eliminating stagnant zones and ensuring uniform ink distribution throughout the chamber while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed openings are arranged in a distributed pattern around the periphery of the manifold chamber, transitioning from a single-point (0D) or linear (1D) feed to a two-dimensional distributed arrangement. This dimensional change ensures comprehensive ink coverage and eliminates dead zones.
2Device complexity
If ink is supplied through a single feed opening, then the manifold chamber structure is simple, but ink stagnation and deterioration occur in remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The single feed opening is segmented into multiple feed openings positioned at different locations around the manifold chamber periphery. This ensures that ink flows into multiple regions simultaneously, preventing stagnation and deterioration in remote areas while keeping the overall structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the manifold chamber are provided with feed openings at appropriate locations to ensure local ink replenishment. This local quality approach prevents ink deterioration in specific remote areas by ensuring each region receives adequate ink flow.
3Device complexity
If the droplet forming unit is directly connected to the ink supply substrate, then the structure is compact, but pressure waves affect print quality
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate element is introduced between the droplet forming unit and the ink supply substrate. This intermediary component absorbs pressure waves generated during droplet ejection, preventing them from affecting print quality, while still maintaining a compact structural configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate element functions as a flexible component that can deform to absorb pressure waves. This flexible structure dampens pressure fluctuations while maintaining the compact design, thereby protecting print quality without adding significant structural complexity.
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 maintains ink quality by preventing stagnation, reducing the risk of blockages, and improving print quality by ensuring consistent ink supply and absorption of pressure waves, thus enhancing the reliability of the inkjet print head.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible foil and an intermediate element are interposed between the ink supply substrate and the droplet forming unit, the flexible foil absorbing the pressure waves coming from the ink inlet port
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
An inkjet print head for generating a droplet of ink comprises an ink supply substrate comprising an ink supply channel; a droplet forming unit arranged on the ink supply substrate; and a manifold chamber formed over an ink inlet surface of the droplet forming unit. The manifold chamber comprises a first wall formed by the ink inlet surface, a second closed wall formed opposite to the first wall and a side wall extending between the first wall and the second wall and surrounding the manifold chamber. The manifold chamber extends in a manifold plane. The inkjet print head further comprises a manifold supply channel arranged in the manifold plane and surrounding the manifold chamber. The ink supply channel is in fluid communication with the manifold supply channel. A number of manifold feed openings in the side wall provide for a fluid connection between the manifold supply channel and the manifold chamber. The number of manifold feed openings is arranged surrounding the manifold chamber to enable ink to flow into the manifold chamber in at least two different flow directions. The multiple flow directions prevent dead zones in the manifold chamber.