Liquid Discharge Head With Graded Nozzle Density for Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The interference between conveyance airflow and discharge airflow in liquid discharge heads causes deviation in the landing position of liquid droplets, leading to suboptimal image quality, especially when nozzle densities are uniform across different nozzle arrays.
Innovation Solution
The nozzle density in the upstream nozzle arrays is set lower than that in the downstream nozzle arrays, reducing the discharge airflow on the upstream side and minimizing the interference between conveyance and discharge airflows, thereby preventing landing position deviation without complex control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If uniform nozzle density is used across all nozzle arrays, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but airflow interference causes landing position deviation and reduced image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different nozzle densities for different nozzle arrays based on their positions. Specifically, the first nozzle array (upstream) has a lower nozzle density than the second nozzle array (downstream). This local differentiation optimizes airflow characteristics at each position, reducing interference between conveyance airflow and discharge airflow, thereby improving landing position consistency without requiring complex overall redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the nozzle density parameter across different nozzle arrays to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting the nozzle density from upstream to downstream, the discharge airflow velocity and volume are optimized at each position, reducing airflow interference and landing position deviation while maintaining a relatively simple device structure
2Manufacturing precision
If higher nozzle density is used to improve image quality, then discharge airflow increases and interferes more with conveyance airflow, causing landing position deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating nozzle densities across spatial positions. The upstream nozzle array uses lower density to minimize airflow interference, while the downstream nozzle array uses higher density to ensure sufficient discharge volume and image quality. This spatial differentiation allows high image quality overall while controlling airflow interference locally
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of discharge airflow interference into a beneficial distribution pattern. By strategically placing lower nozzle density upstream and higher density downstream, the discharge airflow from upstream nozzles naturally assists in guiding downstream liquid, while reducing the harmful interference effect. The airflow interference is transformed from a uniform harmful factor into a controlled, position-dependent characteristic that improves overall performance
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes multiple nozzle arrays each having nozzles arrayed in an array direction to discharge a liquid onto a medium being conveyed in a conveyance direction intersecting the array direction. The multiple nozzle arrays include a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array. The first nozzle array is disposed at the most downstream in the conveyance direction among the multiple nozzle arrays. The first nozzle array has the nozzles arranged at a first nozzle density in the array direction. The second nozzle array is disposed upstream from the first nozzle array in the conveyance direction. The second nozzle array has the nozzles arranged at a second nozzle density in the array direction lower than the first nozzle density.