Inkjet Printhead Guide Structure for Precise Thread Coloring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The imprecise alignment of threads with respect to the nozzles in sewing/embroidering machines due to tolerances in pulley positioning and printhead assembly leads to non-uniform coloring and decreased product quality.
Innovation Solution
An additional guide element is integrated with the printhead to precisely guide the thread, ensuring accurate alignment with the nozzles, which can be adjusted and fixed to minimize misalignment contributions from various tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If additional guide elements and adjustment mechanisms are added to improve thread alignment precision, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A guide element is introduced as an intermediary component between the thread and the nozzles. This guide element directly defines the thread position relative to the nozzles, acting as a mediator that eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while achieving precise alignment. The guide element simplifies the overall system by providing a straightforward geometric reference.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide element is designed to pre-establish the correct geometric relationship between the thread and nozzles before the actual printing operation begins. By defining the thread position in advance through the guide element's geometry, the system eliminates the need for real-time adjustments or complex positioning mechanisms during operation.
2Productivity
If the number of printheads and nozzles is increased to cover a larger ejecting area, then productivity improves, but loss of substance increases due to ink waste
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the number of nozzles to expand coverage, the invention improves the local quality of ink ejection by ensuring precise thread positioning through the guide element. This allows the existing nozzles to be used more efficiently, with ink being deposited accurately on the thread rather than being wasted in surrounding areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical approach of adding more nozzles with a geometric solution using the guide element. Rather than expanding the喷嘴 array to increase coverage, the guide element extends the effective working area by precisely guiding the thread through the existing nozzle field, thereby maintaining productivity without increasing ink waste.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inkjet printhead, in particular for sewing/embroidering machines, comprising: a support structure (10); a plurality of firing cells (11) included in said support structure (10), each firing cell (11) being adapted to eject ink through a respective nozzle (12) for coloring a thread (4) to be used in a sewing/embroidering machine (2); a guide element (20), provided on said support structure (10), for guiding said thread (4) in a position facing said nozzles (12). Also disclosed are a sewing/embroidering machine including said printhead and a method for making said printhead.