Parallel Inkjet Fluid Management System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printers lack effective management of inkjet materials and servicing fluids, leading to unreliable printing operations, particularly in the fabrication of optical films and devices for augmented reality applications.
Innovation Solution
A fluid management system is introduced, comprising a waste tank, servicing fluid supply tanks, inkjet material supply tanks, and an inkjet printer with integrated servicing fluid and ink fluid management modules. This system includes supply and return lines for both servicing fluids and inkjet materials, allowing for parallel management and recirculation within the inkjet chamber, ensuring efficient inkjet printing and servicing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inkjet printers are used for fabricating optical films and devices, then manufacturing capability is provided, but reliable printing operations cannot be ensured due to lack of fluid management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the servicing fluid management system and inkjet material management system into a single integrated fluid management system. Both servicing fluids and inkjet materials flow through separate but parallel supply lines (servicing fluid supply line and ink supply line) that converge at the printhead, while both waste streams are collected through a shared waste tank. This merging approach provides comprehensive fluid management for reliable printing operations without requiring entirely separate management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid management system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a servicing fluid management module with its own supply line and waste collection, and an inkjet material management module with its own supply line and waste collection. Both modules share common components (waste tank, pump). This segmentation allows independent management of servicing fluids and inkjet materials while maintaining systematic integration, ensuring reliable operation of each function.
2Reliability
If servicing fluids and inkjet materials are managed separately, then printing reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waste tank serves multiple functions: it collects waste servicing fluids from the servicing fluid management module and waste inkjet materials from the inkjet material management module. The pump operably associated with the waste tank handles both types of waste materials. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate waste collection systems, maintaining reliability through separate supply lines while reducing overall system complexity through shared waste management components.
3Productivity
If fluid management systems are integrated, then material usage is minimized and print quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated fluid management system incorporates waste collection and recirculation capabilities where waste servicing fluids and waste inkjet materials are collected in a shared waste tank and can be recirculated back to their respective supply lines. This feedback mechanism ensures that fresh materials are only introduced when necessary, minimizing material usage while maintaining print quality. The systematic monitoring and control of fluid flows enable efficient material utilization despite the integrated system's complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Embodiments described herein provide for a fluid management system (300, 400) and a method of utilizing the fluid management system (500). The fluid management system includes a servicing fluid management system (300) and an ink management system (400). The servicing fluid management system (300) and the ink management system (400) run in parallel within an inkjet chamber (100). The ink management system supports the flow of inkjet materials between a waste tank (106), one or more inkjet material supply tanks (104), an ink management module, and the inkjet printer (102). The servicing fluid management system (300) supports the flow of servicing fluids between the waste tank (106), one or more servicing fluid supply tanks (108), a servicing fluid management module (124), and the inkjet printer (102).