Liquid Circulation Device with Fluid Restrictors for Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid circulation devices face challenges in maintaining consistent pressure and preventing liquid leakage or air entrapment in nozzles due to hydraulic head differences between arrays of liquid discharge heads, leading to variations in meniscus pressure and image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a supply-side fluid restrictor with adjustable resistance in the first supply channel and a collection-side fluid restrictor with adjustable resistance in the second collection channel to equalize fluid resistance values, ensuring balanced pressure across heads arrays disposed at different heights, and dynamically adjusting these resistances based on detected pressures to maintain optimal meniscus pressure during both circulation and discharge operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid discharge heads are arranged at different heights to increase productivity, then the liquid circulation device can serve more heads, but hydraulic head differences cause pressure variations and liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing individual fluid restrictors to each supply channel and collection channel pair, allowing each channel to have customized resistance characteristics. This enables local pressure adjustment to compensate for hydraulic head differences caused by varying head heights, while maintaining overall system productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the resistance parameter of fluid restrictors to compensate for pressure variations. By adjusting the resistance values of fluid restrictors in different channels, the system maintains consistent meniscus pressure across all heads despite height differences, thereby resolving the contradiction between serving more heads and maintaining pressure consistency.
2Reliability
If fluid restrictors are added to each channel to equalize resistance, then pressure consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting the resistance values of fluid restrictors to achieve pressure equalization. This approach maintains reliability while keeping the structure relatively simple by only modifying resistance parameters rather than adding complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid restrictors act as intermediary elements that passively regulate flow resistance in each channel. These simple passive components mediate between the hydraulic head differences and the pressure requirements, achieving pressure consistency without requiring complex active control systems.
3Reliability
If resistance values are adjusted dynamically based on pressure detection, then meniscus pressure stability is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting pressure in each channel and adjusting the resistance of fluid restrictors accordingly. This feedback mechanism maintains stable meniscus pressure by continuously compensating for pressure variations, while the control system remains relatively simple compared to active pump or valve control alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes resistance parameters of fluid restrictors based on pressure feedback. This parameter adjustment approach provides stable meniscus pressure control while avoiding the complexity of mechanical actuators or variable speed pumps, maintaining a relatively simple control architecture.
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 cancels hydraulic head differences, prevents liquid leakage, and maintains stable meniscus pressure, ensuring consistent image quality by compensating for flow rate variations and hydraulic head differences between head arrays.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic head differences between arrays of liquid discharge heads
Implementation Method 2
make a fluid resistance value of the first supply channel greater than a fluid resistance value of the second supply channel
Implementation Method 3
hydraulic head differences between arrays of liquid discharge heads
Implementation Method 4
make a fluid resistance value of the second collection channel greater than a fluid resistance value of the first collection channel
Implementation Method 5
variations in meniscus pressure
Implementation Method 6
equalize fluid resistance values, ensuring balanced pressure across heads arrays
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid circulation device includes a first liquid discharge head to discharge a liquid, a first supply channel to supply the liquid to the first liquid discharge head, a first collection channel to collect the liquid from the first liquid discharge head, a second liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid and disposed higher than the first liquid discharge head, a second supply channel to supply the liquid to the second liquid discharge head, a second collection channel to collect the liquid from the second liquid discharge head, a supply-side fluid restrictor disposed in the first supply channel to make a fluid resistance value of the first supply channel greater than a fluid resistance value of the second supply channel, and a collection-side fluid restrictor disposed in the second collection channel to make a fluid resistance value of the second collection channel greater than a fluid resistance value of the first collection channel.