Liquid Discharge Nozzle Layout for Airflow-Stable Droplet Landing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The generation of air flow during relative movement of a liquid discharge head and a medium can cause deviation in the discharge direction of liquid, leading to improper landing of liquid on the medium and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
The liquid discharge head is designed with a specific nozzle arrangement where the first nozzle is positioned closer to the center of the nozzle row and has a larger upstream nozzle portion, while the second nozzle is positioned closer to the end and has a smaller upstream nozzle portion, with the distance between the gravity centers of the downstream and upstream portions of the second nozzle being longer than that of the first nozzle, and the distance between the liquid discharge head and the medium is adjusted to counteract air flow effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If liquid belonging to different groups is alternately discharged to reduce air flow influence, then image quality is improved, but the period required for forming an image is extended and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the nozzles, specifically making the cross-sectional area of the upstream nozzle portion larger than that of the downstream nozzle portion. This parameter change creates a pressure distribution that counteracts air flow effects, allowing simultaneous discharge of all liquid groups while maintaining accurate landing positions, thus resolving the contradiction between image quality and productivity
2Productivity
If liquid is discharged from multiple nozzles simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but air flow is generated causing discharge direction deviation and reduced image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different cross-sectional areas at different locations within each nozzle. The upstream portion has a larger cross-sectional area while the downstream portion has a smaller area, creating a localized pressure gradient that compensates for air flow effects at the specific location of liquid discharge, enabling simultaneous discharge without landing position deviation
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 design effectively stabilizes the discharge direction of liquid, reducing deviations caused by air flow and maintaining image quality by ensuring precise landing of liquid on the medium.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure chamber that is partitioned on a pressure chamber substrate and imparts pressure to liquid by driving the first driving element
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle, the first nozzle includes a first downstream nozzle portion opened on a discharge surface of a nozzle substrate and a first upstream nozzle portion of which a cross-sectional area is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first downstream nozzle portion, the second nozzle includes a second downstream nozzle portion opened on the discharge surface and a second upstream nozzle portion of which a cross-sectional area is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second downstream nozzle portion, and, when viewed in a thickness direction, a second distance between a gravity center position of the second downstream nozzle portion and a gravity center position of the second upstream nozzle portion is longer than a first distance between a gravity center position of the first downstream nozzle portion and a gravity center position of the first upstream nozzle portion.