Liquid Discharge Head Control for Stable Nozzle Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge apparatuses experience a decrease in discharge amount immediately after starting discharge or when the number of nozzle holes changes, leading to deteriorated liquid application quality.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge apparatus with a valve that is driven to open and close the nozzle hole for a variable valve opening time based on the head pressure, controlled by circuitry to maintain consistent discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needle valve is used to open and close the nozzle hole, then the liquid discharge apparatus can control the discharge timing, but the discharge amount decreases immediately after start or when nozzle hole count changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge amount consistencyVSAvoidtime to reach stable discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting head pressure before discharge and using this information to pre-calculate the appropriate valve opening time. This ensures that the correct discharge amount is achieved from the very first discharge operation, eliminating the transient period where discharge amount is unstable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the head pressure in the liquid discharge head and using this feedback to adjust the valve opening time. The controller modifies the valve opening duration based on the detected pressure, ensuring consistent discharge amount even when nozzle hole count changes or during initial operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the valve opening time is fixed, then the control system is simple, but the liquid application quality deteriorates when head pressure changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid application qualityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the valve opening time variable rather than fixed. The valve opening duration is dynamically adjusted based on the detected head pressure, allowing the system to maintain optimal liquid application quality under varying pressure conditions while responding to real-time system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of valve opening time based on head pressure detection. By varying this critical parameter in response to pressure changes, the system maintains consistent discharge characteristics and liquid application quality without requiring complex hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4245422B1Liquid discharge apparatus, liquid discharge method, and carrier medium
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4245422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4245422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4245422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid discharge apparatus (200) includes a liquid discharge head (10) and circuitry (500). The liquid discharge head (10) has a nozzle hole (N) from which a liquid (3) is discharged and includes a valve (12) to open and close the nozzle hole (N) and a valve driver (13) to drive the valve (12). The circuitry (500) causes the valve driver (13) to drive the valve (12) to open the nozzle hole (N) for a valve opening time to discharge the liquid (3) onto an object (3000), and changes the valve opening time based on a head pressure applied to the liquid (3) in the liquid discharge head (10).