Liquid Discharge Head Inspection for Partition Wall Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge head inspection methods struggle to reliably detect separation between partition walls and joined members, which can lead to liquid leaks and discharge failures, especially due to aging or adhesive degradation, making it difficult to distinguish from issues like thickened liquid or bubbles.

Innovation Solution

An inspection method that drives a first actuator corresponding to a target nozzle and detects vibration, then drives additional actuators adjacent to the target nozzle to detect separation by comparing vibration differences, allowing for more accurate detection of member separation and reducing false positives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional inspection methods are used to detect discharge troubles, then discharge issues like thickening or bubbles can be detected, but separation between partition walls and joined members cannot be reliably detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidseparation detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection process is divided into multiple stages: first driving only the inspection target actuator, then driving additional actuators adjacent to the target. The vibration signals are segmented and compared to isolate the effect of partition wall separation from other discharge troubles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure whose separation state is detected through vibration signal analysis. By comparing vibrations with and without adjacent actuator activation, the intermediary partition wall's condition can be inferred even though it's not directly measurable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If separation detection is performed continuously, then early detection is possible, but liquid consumption and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation detection reliabilityVSAvoidliquid consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary inspection by first driving only the target actuator and detecting vibration. Only if this initial inspection shows potential separation (via comparison with adjacent actuator activation) does it proceed to more comprehensive inspection, avoiding unnecessary liquid consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection method dynamically adjusts the number of actuators driven based on the detection results. It starts with minimal actuator activation and only expands to include adjacent actuators when separation is suspected, optimizing the balance between detection reliability and liquid consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If multiple actuators are driven simultaneously for inspection, then separation detection accuracy improves, but liquid consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation detection accuracyVSAvoidliquid consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The method uses partial action by first inspecting with only the target actuator driven. Only when separation is detected does it apply excessive action by driving additional adjacent actuators to confirm and characterize the separation, avoiding unnecessary liquid consumption in normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 method effectively detects separation between partition walls and joined members, reducing unnecessary liquid consumption and processing time, while improving detection accuracy by adjusting the number of driven actuators and allowable errors based on accumulated load.

Implementation Method 1

actuators that cause pressure vibration in liquid in the pressure chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure vibration:

Implementation Method 2

a detection circuit that detects vibration in the liquid in the pressure chamber generated by the driving of the actuator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection:

Data Source

PatentUS9649838B2Inspection method of liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device

Publication Date: 2017.05.16 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Inspection processing is performed. The inspection processing includes a first driving step of driving a piezoelectric element corresponding to an inspection target nozzle, a first detection step of detecting vibration that is generated in ink in a pressure chamber corresponding to the inspection target nozzle by the driving in the first driving step, a second driving step of driving together the piezoelectric element corresponding to the inspection target nozzle and a piezoelectric element corresponding to at least one nozzle of nozzles adjacent to the inspection target nozzle, and a second detection step of detecting vibration that is generated in the ink in the pressure chamber corresponding to the inspection target nozzle by the driving in the second driving step.