Liquid Jetting Head Circulation Channel Temperature Homogenization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid jetting heads face challenges in maintaining uniform ink temperature near the nozzle, particularly due to heat generated by piezoelectric elements, leading to potential jetting failures and performance deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A liquid jetting head configuration featuring a supply manifold with a first circulation channel and a second circulation channel that returns ink to the manifold, where the return port is positioned closer to the inflow port than the outflow port, allowing opposite circulation directions and mixing of temperature flows to homogenize ink temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single circulation path is used in the supply manifold, then the structure is simple, but the liquid temperature cannot be uniformized near the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation path is divided into two separate paths: a first circulation path and a second circulation path. The first circulation path allows liquid to flow from the inflow port to the outflow port, while the second circulation path returns liquid from the return port to a position between the inflow and outflow ports. This segmentation enables different temperature zones to be created and mixed effectively, solving the temperature uniformity problem without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the first circulation path and the second circulation path within the same supply manifold structure. The return port and return channel are integrated into the manifold, allowing the cooler returning liquid to mix with the warmer outgoing liquid. This merging of circulation paths creates temperature homogenization while maintaining structural efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the return port is positioned far from the inflow port, then the circulation path is simple, but the temperature mixing effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The return port is strategically positioned at a specific location within the supply manifold - between the inflow port and outflow port, but closer to the outflow port. This localized positioning creates an optimal mixing zone where cooler returning liquid intersects with warmer liquid flowing toward the nozzle. The local quality of the flow pattern at this specific position enhances temperature mixing efficiency without requiring complex overall path configuration.
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 effectively uniformizes the ink temperature near the nozzles by mixing cooler and warmer ink flows, enhancing the reliability and performance of the liquid jetting process.
Implementation Method 1
a second circulation channel configured to guide the liquid not discharged from the nozzles to the supply manifold... mixing of temperature flows to homogenize ink temperature
Implementation Method 2
Ink is jetted from the nozzle due to pressure variation caused by a piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 3
since the piezoelectric element generates heat at the time of driving, an increase in ink temperature due to the driving heat of the piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid jetting head including: a supply manifold configured to define a first circulation channel through which a liquid in the supply manifold circulates; descenders that communicate with the supply manifold, and which is configured to guide the liquid to nozzles, respectively; and a second circulation channel configured to guide the liquid not discharged from the nozzles to the supply manifold. The second circulation channel includes a return manifold that extends to communicate with the descenders, and a return channel that communicates with the return manifold and communicates with the supply manifold via a return port. A first end of the first circulation channel in the supply manifold is an outflow port and a second end of the first circulation channel in the supply manifold is an inflow port. In the supply manifold, the return port is closer to the inflow port than to the outflow port.