Liquid Discharge Head Electrode Pin Configuration for Accurate Level Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge devices face challenges in accurately detecting the remaining amount of liquid during high-flow rate discharges due to liquid rippling, leading to erroneous determinations and delayed detection of reduced liquid levels, especially in compact devices with increased printing speed.
Innovation Solution
The liquid discharge head employs two electrode pins of equal length inserted vertically from the upper portion of the liquid chamber, ensuring they do not contact the liquid simultaneously during oscillation, allowing for accurate detection of remaining liquid by determining contact with either pin, thus preventing erroneous large liquid determinations and timely detection of reduced levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid discharge head performs high-flow rate liquid discharge, then the productivity is improved, but the measurement precision of the remaining liquid amount deteriorates due to liquid adhering and remaining on the inner wall surfaces of the liquid chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber is divided into multiple detection zones by placing multiple electrode pins at different positions (upper, middle, lower portions) and different heights. This segmentation allows the system to detect liquid presence in different regions independently, providing more accurate measurement even when liquid flows dynamically during high-flow rate discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection mechanism transitions from a single-point detection to multi-dimensional detection by arranging electrode pins in both vertical (height direction) and horizontal (width direction) dimensions. This spatial distribution of detection points across multiple dimensions enables comprehensive monitoring of liquid levels and flow patterns during high-speed operation.
2Device complexity
If electrode pins are placed close to each other to detect liquid presence, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to short circuiting between electrode pins caused by liquid connection
Solution Approach 1:
Electrode pins are arranged in multiple dimensions (vertical height direction and horizontal width direction) rather than simply close together in one dimension. This spatial separation across different dimensions prevents liquid bridging between pins while maintaining effective detection coverage, thereby avoiding short circuits and ensuring reliable detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Different electrode pins are positioned at different heights and locations within the liquid chamber, creating local detection zones with different properties. This allows each electrode pin to monitor specific regions, and the system can determine liquid presence based on the collective state of all pins, improving reliability by preventing false readings from localized liquid contact.
3Device complexity
If a single electrode pin is used to detect liquid level, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates as it cannot detect liquid amount in a stepwise manner
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber detection is segmented into multiple zones using multiple electrode pins positioned at different heights and locations. Each pin monitors a specific zone, and by combining the detection states of all pins, the system achieves stepwise liquid amount detection with high precision, far exceeding what a single electrode pin could provide.
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 enables precise and prompt detection of the remaining liquid amount, preventing false positives and ensuring timely exchange of liquid tanks without reducing throughput, even during or after liquid ejection operations.
Implementation Method 1
determination of whether there is any liquid is made by detecting the communication state between the electrode pins
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head including a liquid chamber and two electrode pins that are inserted in the liquid chamber from an upper portion of the liquid chamber. The two electrode pins are used to detect a remaining amount of liquid inside the liquid chamber on a basis of a communication state between the two electrode pins and are disposed on a centerline that is a line extending through a center of an upper surface of the liquid chamber in a moving direction of the liquid discharge head or a single electrode pin is disposed on each side of the centerline with the centerline interposed in between. An expression X1≧Z1/0.4 is satisfied, where X1 is an interval between the two electrode pins and Z1 is a difference in projection lengths of the two electrode pins in the liquid chamber.