Liquid Discharge Head Wiring With a Rigid-Flexible Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in size reduction, improvement of discharge accuracy, and productivity, despite advancements in increasing the number of nozzles and discharge amount per unit time.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge apparatus with a print head and substrate unit featuring a rigid flexible substrate with a flexible member and power supply voltage wiring, including a first and second connector, and a wiring substrate with circuit components, to enhance connectivity and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a plurality of heads with large number of nozzles is used to increase discharge amount per unit time, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge amount per unit timeVSAvoidnumber of heads and nozzles

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid discharge apparatus is divided into multiple independent head units, each with its own drive circuit and cooling mechanism. This segmentation allows each head to operate independently, maintaining high productivity through parallel operation while reducing the complexity of controlling a single large-scale head system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drive circuit is integrated directly into the head unit structure, with the cooling mechanism nested within the housing that contains both the head and drive circuit. This nested arrangement reduces overall device size and complexity by eliminating separate mounting structures for each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If a plurality of heads with large number of nozzles is used to increase discharge amount per unit time, then productivity is improved, but size of the apparatus increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge amount per unit timeVSAvoidsize of the apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The head and drive circuit are combined into a single integrated head unit structure. The cooling mechanism is merged with the housing that contains both components. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces the overall volume of the apparatus while maintaining the capability for high-volume liquid discharge through multiple heads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive circuit is nested within the housing structure, and the cooling mechanism is nested within the same housing. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and minimizes the overall apparatus size while supporting multiple heads for high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If separate drive circuits are provided for each head unit, then liquid discharge accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid discharge accuracyVSAvoidnumber of drive circuits

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive circuits are segmented and integrated into individual head units, allowing each head to have dedicated control for precise liquid discharge. This segmentation maintains high discharge accuracy while reducing overall system complexity by distributing control functions to modular units that can be managed independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drive circuit is nested within the head unit housing, creating a self-contained module. This nested structure reduces the complexity of wiring and signal transmission between separate components while maintaining the dedicated control needed for high discharge accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

The solution improves discharge accuracy and reduces the size of the apparatus while maintaining high productivity and efficiency in liquid discharge operations.

Implementation Method 1

a discharge section that has a piezoelectric element that is displaced by receiving a driving signal and discharges a liquid by displacement of the piezoelectric element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12409652B2Liquid discharge apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a substrate unit, in which the substrate unit includes a wiring substrate which is a rigid flexible substrate having a plurality of rigid members and flexible member, the flexible member includes a first surface, a second surface, a first region, a second region, and a third region, a first rigid member among the plurality of rigid members is laminated on the first surface of the first region such that a first front surface, the second rigid member among the plurality of rigid members is laminated on the first surface of the second region such that a second front surface, the flexible member includes a power supply voltage wiring, and the power supply voltage wiring is continuously provided over the first region, the second region, and the third region of the flexible member.