Inkjet Printhead Nozzle Area Differentiation for White Ink

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink-jet printing technologies face challenges in suppressing ink mist generation while maintaining adequate ink discharge amounts, particularly when using a multi-drop method, which can contaminate the printing apparatus and reduce efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The printing apparatus features larger openings for discharging white ink compared to color ink, allowing for increased white ink discharge without relying on the multi-drop method, thereby reducing ink mist generation and enabling efficient high-speed printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the multi-drop method is used to increase the discharge amount of white ink, then the discharge amount is improved, but the ink mist generation increases and contaminates the printing apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge amount of white inkVSAvoidink mist generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different opening areas for different ink types. Specifically, the opening for white ink (first opening) has a larger area than the opening for color ink (second opening). This localized structural differentiation allows white ink to be discharged in larger quantities without using the multi-drop method, thereby reducing ink mist generation while maintaining the required discharge amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If a large amplitude drive signal is input to discharge a large amount of white ink, then the discharge amount is improved, but the conveying speed of the print medium is delayed and printing efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge amount of white inkVSAvoidprinting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different opening areas for different ink types. Specifically, the opening for white ink (first opening) has a larger area than the opening for color ink (second opening). This localized structural differentiation allows white ink to be discharged in larger quantities without using the multi-drop method, thereby reducing ink mist generation while maintaining the required discharge amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If the area of the first opening is made larger, then the discharge amount of white ink is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge amount of white inkVSAvoidopening structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different opening areas for different ink types. Specifically, the opening for white ink (first opening) has a larger area than the opening for color ink (second opening). This localized structural differentiation allows white ink to be discharged in larger quantities without using the multi-drop method, thereby reducing ink mist generation while maintaining the required discharge amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 suppresses ink mist generation while ensuring a sufficient discharge amount of white ink, enhancing printing efficiency and reducing maintenance needs by preventing clogging and allowing for high-speed conveying of the print medium.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element that changes a volume of the pressure chamber in response to a drive signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3760443B1Printing device and printing method
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 SCREEN HOLDINGS CO LTD
  • EP3760443B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3760443B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The area of the openings Ow that discharges the white ink is larger than the area of the openings Ot that discharges the color inks. Since the openings Ow are secured to be large in this way, more white ink can be discharged to one pixel while the number of ink droplets discharged by the multi-drop method is suppressed or without depending on the multi-drop method. As a result, a generation amount of an ink mist can be suppressed while the discharge amount of the white ink is secured.