Inkjet Printhead Surface Coatings for Efficient, Wear-Resistant Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printers face challenges in achieving high ink ejection efficiency and durability, particularly in the formation of organic and inorganic layers on display device substrates, which affect the abrasion resistance and longevity of the printer components.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet printer head incorporates a design with self-assembled layers on its outer and inner surfaces, including metal oxide layers and self-assembled layers with varying contact angles, along with an organic layer and adhesive auxiliary layer, enhancing the ejection efficiency and abrasion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional inkjet printer head structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ink ejection efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The inkjet printer head is segmented into multiple functional layers including a base layer, organic layer, inorganic layer, and self-assembled layers. Each layer performs a specific function: the organic layer provides flexibility and barrier properties, the inorganic layer enhances abrasion resistance, and the self-assembled layers control surface energy and ink ejection. This segmentation allows optimization of ink ejection efficiency while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular functional design.
Solution Approach 2:
The inkjet printer head employs a composite structure combining organic materials (flexible barrier layer), inorganic materials (abrasion-resistant layer), and self-assembled monolayers with controlled contact angles. This composite material approach enables simultaneous achievement of flexibility, barrier properties, abrasion resistance, and controlled ink ejection efficiency, resolving the contradiction between performance improvement and complexity management.
2Productivity
If the inkjet printer head operates continuously, then the productivity increases, but the abrasion resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by depositing a hard inorganic layer (such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride) on the nozzle surface before operation begins. This inorganic layer serves as a protective barrier that cushions the nozzle against abrasion during continuous ink ejection operations. The self-assembled layers with optimized contact angles are also formed in advance to prevent ink adhesion and reduce friction, further protecting the nozzle structure during continuous operation.
3Productivity
If the contact angle of the self-assembled layer is increased to improve ink repellency, then the ink ejection efficiency improves, but the adhesion to the substrate worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different self-assembled layers with different contact angles at different locations on the inkjet printer head. The nozzle surface has self-assembled layers with high contact angles (100-200 degrees) to repel ink and improve ejection efficiency, while the substrate contact surface maintains appropriate adhesion properties. This spatial variation in surface properties allows simultaneous achievement of ink repellency and substrate adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer composite structure includes self-assembled layers with controlled contact angles that provide ink repellency while the underlying organic and inorganic layers maintain substrate adhesion. The composite material system allows the outer self-assembled layers to have high contact angles for ink ejection efficiency while the inner layers ensure strong bonding to the substrate, resolving the adhesion-ejection contradiction.
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
The design results in improved ink ejection efficiency and superior abrasion resistance, leading to enhanced durability of the inkjet printer head and overall printer performance.
Implementation Method 1
self-assembled layers different from each other are respectively disposed on outer and inner side surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a first self-assembled layer disposed on the first metal portion and having a first contact angle, and a second self-assembled layer disposed on the third portion and having a second contact angle smaller than the first contact angle
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer includes a stage part and an inkjet printer head disposed on the stage part and including a plurality of head parts. Each of the head parts includes a chamber plate part including a chamber part, a nozzle plate part including a nozzle part, an outer side surface, an inner side surface, and a nozzle surface, an inorganic layer disposed on the outer side surface, a first metal oxide layer including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, a second metal oxide layer including a first metal portion and a second metal portion, a first self-assembled layer disposed on the first metal portion and having a first contact angle, and a second self-assembled layer disposed on the third portion and having a second contact angle smaller than the first contact angle.