Laser Droplet Generation for Nozzle Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, such as ink jet printers and 3D printers, face challenges with ink accumulation near nozzles, leading to reduced discharge performance, especially when using liquids with high viscosity, as the heat generating units within the nozzles cause drying and clogging.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus featuring a head unit with first and second nozzle arrays, where the liquid columns are irradiated with a laser beam from a position separate from the nozzles, reducing drying and accumulation, and utilizing a direction changing unit to control the flying direction of droplets, allowing for efficient generation and precise control of droplet size and direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heat generating unit is provided in a portion of the nozzle to generate pulsation in the liquid column, then ink particles can be continually formed, but dried ink is likely to be attached and accumulated on the nozzle edge, reducing discharge performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat generating unit from the nozzle structure and places it in a separate liquid column processing unit. This separation removes the source of drying and accumulation problems from the nozzle, allowing continuous ink particle formation without the harmful thermal effects acting directly on the nozzle edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary liquid column processing unit between the nozzle and the ink discharge point. This intermediary unit performs the heat generation and pulsation functions without direct contact with the nozzle, mediating the process to avoid dried ink accumulation while maintaining continuous particle formation.
2Productivity
If the heat generating unit is provided within the nozzle, then ink can be discharged, but ink accumulation in the vicinity of the nozzle reduces discharge stability
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generating unit is extracted from the nozzle and relocated to a separate processing unit. This extraction eliminates the accumulation problem that destabilizes discharge while preserving the ink discharge capability through the separated liquid column processing function.
3Productivity
If multiple nozzle arrays are used to increase discharge capacity, then more liquid can be discharged, but the complexity of the head unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple nozzle arrays into a single integrated head unit structure that shares common support and control mechanisms. This combining approach increases liquid discharge capacity while reducing overall structural complexity compared to having separate independent nozzle systems.
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 solution enhances the discharge performance by minimizing ink drying and accumulation, enabling stable and efficient ink discharge for various liquid viscosities, and allows for high controllability of droplet direction and size, improving the accuracy and efficiency of printing and three-dimensional object formation.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid droplet generating unit that irradiates the liquid column with a laser beam from a position separated from the plurality of nozzles and separates liquid droplets from the liquid column
Implementation Method 2
a direction changing unit that applies energy to the liquid droplets and changes a flying direction of the liquid droplets
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head unit that discharges a liquid from each of a plurality of nozzles and causes a liquid column to extend downwardly; a liquid droplet generating unit that irradiates the liquid column with a laser beam from a position separated from the plurality of nozzles and separates liquid droplets from the liquid column; and a direction changing unit that applies energy to the liquid droplets and changes a flying direction of the liquid droplets.