Substrate Holder Assembly for Accurate Inkjet Droplet Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing faces challenges in precision due to micro-scale deviations in timing, quantity, or rate of print material ejection and imprecision in substrate positioning, leading to printing faults where print material arrives off-target.
Innovation Solution
A substrate holder assembly with a base member, contact member, holder carriage, linear extender, and flex members is integrated into an inkjet printer to provide precise control over substrate position and height, using sensors and a gas cushion for precise local control of substrate elevation and vacuum for secure substrate holding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If substrate height is not controlled, then the structure remains simple, but printing precision deteriorates due to off-target material arrival
Solution Approach 1:
The holder assembly incorporates adjustable height mechanisms that allow dynamic modification of substrate positioning. The base member can be adjusted vertically to change the distance between the substrate and dispensing assembly, enabling precise control over material travel distance and arrival timing while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a simplified adjustable base mechanism. Instead of using multiple actuators and sensors for height control, the invention uses a manually or motor-adjustable base member that provides precise height control through a single degree of freedom adjustment, reducing overall system complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If substrate distance from dispensers is imprecise, then device structure remains simple, but print material arrives early or late causing printing faults
Solution Approach 1:
The holder assembly allows preliminary adjustment of substrate height before the printing process begins. By pre-positioning the substrate at the correct distance from the dispensing assembly, the system ensures accurate material placement without requiring real-time height adjustments during printing, simplifying the control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls print quality by adjusting the physical parameter of substrate-to-dispenser distance. The base member height adjustment directly changes the travel distance of print material, allowing optimization of material flight time and placement accuracy through simple parameter modification rather than complex control algorithms
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
Ensures precise placement of microscopic print material droplets by accurately controlling substrate distance from dispensers, minimizing errors and improving print quality.
Implementation Method 1
using sensors and a gas cushion for precise local control of substrate elevation
Implementation Method 2
vacuum for secure substrate holding
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a substrate holder assembly that includes a base member having a long axis in a first direction and a short axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a contact member coupled to the base member, the contact member having a long axis in the first direction and a short axis in the second direction; a holder carriage coupled to the base member; a linear extender coupled between the base member and the contact member and extending in a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction from the base member toward the contact member; and a flex member coupled to the base member, extending in the second direction between the linear extender and the contact member, and having a flex direction in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.