Liquid Circulation Control for Pulsation-Free Droplet Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge devices, such as inkjet printers, face challenges in efficiently controlling liquid discharge, preventing waste, and ensuring reliable liquid circulation, particularly during continuous printing operations.
Innovation Solution
A circulation device is designed with a robotic portion, pressure portions, valve portions, and a heater, which controls the circulation of liquid between a storage unit and a liquid droplet discharge unit, using proportional valves to manage flow rates and minimize pulsation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid circulation is controlled using conventional methods, then liquid discharge function is maintained, but pulsation occurs in the liquid discharge system causing non-discharge or leakage issues
Solution Approach 1:
A circulation pump is introduced as an intermediary device to control liquid circulation separately from the discharge valve. The circulation pump actively manages liquid flow through a circulation channel, preventing pulsation by maintaining steady circulation pressure, while the discharge valve focuses solely on discharge control without causing pulsation.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid control system is divided into two independent subsystems: a discharge system (discharge valve and discharge channel) and a circulation system (circulation pump and circulation channel). This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently - the discharge valve for precise discharge control and the circulation pump for stable liquid supply without pulsation.
2Productivity
If liquid circulation is not controlled efficiently, then device structure is simplified, but liquid waste occurs and circulation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control where the circulation pump monitors and adjusts liquid circulation based on discharge patterns. During continuous discharge operations, the circulation pump maintains appropriate circulation to prevent waste, and during idle periods, it reduces or stops circulation to minimize liquid waste while maintaining circulation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump operates dynamically, adjusting its operation based on the discharge state. It can be activated during discharge operations to maintain circulation efficiency and deactivated during idle periods to prevent liquid waste, creating a dynamic balance between circulation efficiency and waste prevention.
3Reliability
If circulation control components are added to suppress pulsation, then liquid discharge reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump serves multiple functions: it suppresses pulsation in the liquid discharge system, maintains steady circulation pressure, prevents non-discharge issues, and eliminates leakage problems. By consolidating these functions into a single active control device, the system achieves high reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles by implementing an active liquid circulation system using the circulation pump. This hydraulic approach provides smooth, pulsation-free liquid flow control that is more reliable than passive mechanical methods, achieving high discharge reliability with a relatively simple hydraulic control structure.
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
The circulation device effectively suppresses pulsation in the liquid discharge system, prevents non-discharge and leakage issues, and ensures efficient liquid circulation, thereby enhancing the reliability and performance of liquid discharge devices during continuous printing.
Implementation Method 1
The first pressure portion feeds the liquid stored in the storage unit to the liquid droplet discharge unit through a first channel communicating the storage unit and the liquid droplet discharge unit with each other
Implementation Method 2
The second pressure portion feeds the liquid recovered in the liquid droplet discharge unit to the storage unit through a second channel communicating the storage unit and the liquid droplet discharge unit with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A circulation device according to an aspect includes a storage unit for storing liquid and a liquid droplet discharge unit for discharging liquid, and controls circulation of liquid flowing through a channel communicating the storage unit and the liquid droplet discharge unit with each other. Such a circulation device includes a robotic portion, a first pressure portion, a second pressure portion, a first valve portion, and a second valve portion. The robotic portion is mounted with the liquid droplet discharge unit. The first pressure portion feeds the liquid stored in the storage unit to the liquid droplet discharge unit through a first channel communicating the storage unit and the liquid droplet discharge unit with each other. The second pressure portion feeds the liquid recovered in the liquid droplet discharge unit to the storage unit through a second channel communicating the storage unit and the liquid droplet discharge unit with each other. The first valve portion is interposed between the first pressure portion and the liquid droplet discharge unit. The second valve portion is interposed between the second pressure portion and the liquid droplet discharge unit.