Integrated Filter Assembly for Compact Liquid Ejecting Heads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording heads face challenges with air bubbles in the ink supply, leading to printing errors and size limitations due to the need for separate welding of filters and supply needles, which increases dynamic pressure and production costs.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design that integrates a filter mounting member, supply body, and filter using an outer portion formed by integral molding, eliminating the need for separate welding and allowing for a reduced size and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filters are provided in the area of the supply member where the supply needles are fixed, then air bubbles and dust can be removed from ink, but the distance between adjacent ink supply needles cannot be reduced and the size of the recording head cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filter and supply needles into a single integrated filter assembly. The filter is formed as an integral structure with multiple supply needles extending through it, eliminating the need for separate welding processes and reducing the overall space required in the supply member area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges supply needles in a multi-dimensional configuration within the filter structure. By extending needles in multiple directions and utilizing vertical spacing, the design reduces the horizontal distance between adjacent needle tips while maintaining adequate filtration area, thereby reducing the recording head size.
2Volume of moving object
If the size of the filters is excessively reduced in order to reduce the size of the recording head, then the recording head size is reduced, but the dynamic pressure increases and the amount of drive voltage generated by the driving pressure generating units needs to be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filtration function across multiple filters arranged in parallel, with each filter serving a specific group of supply needles. This segmentation allows each individual filter to be smaller in area while collectively providing sufficient total filtration area, thereby maintaining adequate liquid flow without excessive dynamic pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement and spacing of multiple supply needles extending through the filter structure. By carefully designing the needle positions and angles, the liquid flow paths are optimized to minimize resistance and dynamic pressure while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
3Reliability
If separate welding processes are provided for both the ink supply needles and the filters, then reliable connections are achieved, but the distance between adjacent ink supply needles cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filter and supply needles into a single integral structure formed by one molding process. This merging eliminates the need for separate welding operations, as the needles are directly formed as part of the filter assembly, allowing for closer spacing between adjacent needles.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral molding process acts as an intermediary method that simultaneously creates both the filter structure and the supply needle connections. This single process achieves reliable connections without requiring additional welding space, thereby reducing the distance between adjacent needles.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a head main body capable of ejecting a liquid supplied from a liquid storage unit, and a supply member provided with a liquid supply passage for supplying the liquid from the liquid storage unit to the head main body. The supply member has a filter mounting member provided with the liquid supply passage, a supply body that supplies the filter mounting member with the liquid, and a filter provided between the filter mounting member and the supply body. The supply member is provided with an outer portion that fixes the filter mounting member, the supply body, and the filter and that is formed by integral molding.