Inkjet Printer Head Flow Path Plate Width Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inkjet printer heads face challenges in achieving high image quality due to crosstalk between liquid chambers, high manufacturing costs, and difficulty in fabricating high-density products, primarily because of the limitations in fabricating flow path plates from silicon wafers, which results in a low yield ratio and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a nozzle plate with plural nozzles, a flow path plate with pressure chambers and flow path resistance parts, and common liquid chambers formed by multiple members, allowing for reduced widths of the flow path and nozzle plates, enabling more flow path plates to be obtained from a silicon wafer, and efficient pressure wave attenuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If liquid chambers are made of resin, then ease of manufacture is improved, but rigidity decreases causing crosstalk between liquid chambers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidrigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid chamber structure is segmented into multiple independent chambers formed on the silicon substrate. Each chamber is isolated by partition walls, preventing crosstalk while maintaining the ease of semiconductor manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid chamber structure uses composite construction combining silicon substrate with adhesive layers and protective films. This composite approach provides both the rigidity of silicon and the manufacturing advantages of layered fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If liquid chambers are made of metal or glass, then rigidity is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverigidityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical fabrication methods for metal or glass chambers with semiconductor manufacturing processes. Silicon-based micromachining techniques enable precise liquid chamber formation with high rigidity while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized semiconductor fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the width of the flow path plate is increased to accommodate common liquid chambers, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to lower yield ratio from silicon wafers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a planar arrangement to a three-dimensional structure by forming common liquid chambers that extend in the depth direction. This vertical utilization of space allows the flow path plate width to be reduced while maintaining adequate common liquid chamber volume, thereby increasing the number of chambers per silicon wafer and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If a pressure attenuating mechanism is disposed away from the common liquid chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of pressure attenuation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure attenuating mechanism is merged with the common liquid chamber structure itself. The common liquid chamber serves dual functions as both the ink distribution channel and the pressure attenuation mechanism, eliminating the need for separate components while ensuring reliable pressure attenuation through direct integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces the width of the flow path plates by 40% to 45%, increasing the yield ratio and reducing manufacturing costs while improving image quality by minimizing crosstalk and enhancing pressure wave attenuation.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure generating unit such as a piezoelectric element for generating pressure to be applied to the ink in the flow paths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8292416B2Inkjet printer head

Publication Date: 2012.10.23 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An inkjet printer head includes a nozzle plate having nozzles for jetting ink; a flow path plate having flow paths for communicating with the nozzles, each of the flow paths including a pressure chamber and a resistance part having a smaller cross-sectional area than the pressure chamber, wherein piezoelectric elements having smaller horizontal areas than the flow paths are laminated on the flow path plate; and a common liquid chamber configured to guide the ink from an opening to the pressure chamber. The common liquid chamber is formed by a first member and a second member. The first member forms a top part of the common liquid chamber, and the second member forms a side surface and a bottom surface of a bottom part of the common liquid chamber by adhering to an outer wall of the first member and to an ink jetting surface of the nozzle plate.