Liquid Discharge Head Valve for Nozzle Cleaning Without Ink Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid discharge systems face issues where cleaning liquid enters the liquid chamber, causing ink or paint dilution and deterioration in coating quality due to the entry of cleaning liquid into the nozzle and liquid chamber.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge system with a valve mechanism that keeps the nozzle closed during cleaning, using a cleaning nozzle to supply cleaning liquid to the nozzle face, preventing entry into the liquid chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle face to clean the nozzle, then the nozzle is cleaned effectively, but the cleaning liquid enters the liquid chamber and causes dilution of the ink or paint
Solution Approach 1:
A valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the liquid chamber and the nozzle. This valve controls the opening and closing of the communication port, acting as a mediator that allows cleaning liquid to reach the nozzle face while preventing it from entering the liquid chamber. The valve enables selective control of liquid flow paths to resolve the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and ink purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication path between the liquid chamber and the nozzle is segmented into controllable sections using the valve. By dividing the flow path and enabling independent control of the communication port, the system allows cleaning liquid to be supplied to the nozzle face while isolating the liquid chamber from contamination. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by creating distinct zones with different functional requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the communication port remains open during cleaning, then cleaning liquid can reach the nozzle face, but cleaning liquid enters the liquid chamber causing ink dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The valve provides dynamic control of the communication port, allowing it to be opened when cleaning is needed and closed during normal operation. This dynamic state change enables the system to switch between cleaning mode (port open) and operation mode (port closed), resolving the contradiction between cleaning accessibility and maintaining ink concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of the communication port (open/closed) based on operational requirements. By controlling the valve to change the port state, the system allows cleaning liquid supply when open while preventing ink dilution when closed, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning accessibility and ink concentration maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge system includes: a head (300) including: a nozzle (302) from which a liquid is to be discharged; a liquid chamber (311) communicating with the nozzle through a communication port; a nozzle face (301) on which the nozzle is formed; and a valve (304) configured to open or close the communication port; and a cleaner (708) including a cleaning nozzle (201) to supply a cleaning liquid to the nozzle face, wherein the cleaner supplies the cleaning liquid from the cleaning nozzle to the nozzle face in a state where the valve has closed the communication port.