Liquid Discharge Apparatus with Folded Wiring for Compact Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in size reduction, improvement of discharge accuracy, and productivity, despite advancements in increasing the number of nozzles and discharge amount per unit time.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a print head and substrate unit featuring a flexible rigid substrate with specific laminated rigid members and connectors, allowing for efficient electrical coupling and improved discharge accuracy through a flexible yet structured design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a plurality of heads with a large number of nozzles are used to increase discharge amount per unit time, then productivity is improved, but the size of the liquid discharge apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring substrate is folded in a nested configuration where multiple layers are stacked and connected through through-holes. This nesting approach allows the substrate to occupy minimal space while maintaining extensive wiring capacity to support multiple heads with large numbers of nozzles, thereby achieving high productivity within a compact apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiring substrate transitions from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional folded structure. By folding the substrate and stacking layers vertically, the design utilizes the third dimension (height) to accommodate extensive wiring paths and multiple connector interfaces, enabling support for multiple high-nozzle-count heads without increasing the horizontal footprint of the apparatus.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wiring substrate is made flexible to improve adaptability, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring substrate is constructed as a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) that can bend and conform to different spatial configurations. This flexibility enables the substrate to adapt to various mounting arrangements and connector positions, improving ease of operation and installation while maintaining electrical connectivity across the folded structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Positioning holes are provided in the rigid substrate that align with connectors on the flexible wiring substrate. These pre-positioned holes act as mechanical guides and alignment features, ensuring that even though the substrate is flexible, the connectors maintain precise positioning during assembly and operation, thereby preserving manufacturing precision.
3Strength
If rigid members are laminated to provide structural support, then strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate assembly combines flexible printed circuit board material with rigid substrate layers in a composite structure. The flexible FPCB provides electrical connectivity and adaptability, while the rigid substrate layers provide mechanical strength and structural support. This composite approach achieves both strength and flexibility without requiring numerous separate laminated components, thereby limiting device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiring substrate integrates multiple functions into a single folded structure: electrical wiring, mechanical support, and alignment guidance. By merging these functions into one integrated component rather than using separate elements, the design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the necessary structural strength through the laminated rigid members within the folded substrate.
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
Enhances discharge accuracy and reduces the size of the apparatus while maintaining high productivity by optimizing the structural arrangement of rigid and flexible components.
Implementation Method 1
a first discharge section that has a first piezoelectric element that is displaced by receiving a first driving signal and discharges a liquid by displacement of the first piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a substrate unit, and includes a wiring substrate having a plurality of rigid members and flexible member, in which a first rigid member, and a second rigid member are positioned facing each other, a third rigid member laminated on a first surface of a third region of the flexible member is positioned such that a normal direction of a third front surface intersects a normal direction of a first front surface and a second front surface, the second connector is provided on a fourth rigid member laminated on a second surface of a third region of the flexible member, and a size of the third rigid member and a fourth rigid member is smaller than a size of the print head when a first discharge section is viewed from the first connector.