Liquid Discharge Head Needle Valve Alignment for Uniform Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid discharge heads face issues with accurate attachment of the leading-end member to the rear-end member, leading to shifts in axial center and inclination, which cause non-uniform fluid resistance, discharge bending, and sealing failures, affecting the discharge quality.
Innovation Solution
The needle valve incorporates an axial force generator and axial center restrictor to ensure precise attachment of the leading-end member, using a screw portion and inlay portion to restrict the axial center and an inclination restrictor to maintain alignment, thereby preventing shifts and inclinations, ensuring uniform discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the leading-end member is detachably attached to the rear-end member, then the adaptability for various liquids is improved, but the manufacturing precision of attachment is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning pin is introduced as an intermediary element between the leading-end member and rear-end member. The positioning pin fits into a positioning hole to precisely locate the axial center of the leading-end member, ensuring accurate alignment while maintaining detachability. This mediator enables both easy replacement for different liquids and high attachment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle valve structure incorporates self-positioning features where the leading-end member automatically aligns with the rear-end member through the positioning pin and positioning hole mechanism. The axial force generator also provides self-centering functionality, ensuring that the leading-end member maintains precise alignment without requiring external adjustment tools or complex assembly procedures.
2Ease of manufacture
If the axial center of the leading-end member shifts relative to the rear-end member, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the discharge quality is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pin acts as a mediator that guides the leading-end member into precise alignment with the rear-end member during assembly. The positioning hole in the rear-end member receives the positioning pin, creating a mechanical constraint that ensures the axial centers coincide, thereby achieving high alignment precision without requiring complex assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning pin and positioning hole create an asymmetric feature in the otherwise symmetric needle valve structure. This asymmetric element provides a unique alignment path that ensures the leading-end member can only be attached in the correct orientation, preventing axial center shifts while maintaining ease of assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the leading-end member is attached with inclination, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing reliability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pin serves as a mediator that prevents inclined attachment by providing a precise alignment reference. When the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, it mechanically constrains the leading-end member to be perpendicular to the rear-end member, ensuring proper sealing contact between the needle valve and nozzle while maintaining simple attachment operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning pin and positioning hole structure preemptively prevents inclined attachment before it can occur. By providing a pre-defined alignment path through the positioning features, the design eliminates the possibility of incorrect attachment angles, thereby ensuring sealing reliability from the outset without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes a needle valve to open and close a nozzle, the needle valve including: a rear-end member; and a leading-end member detachably attached to the rear-end member; and a mover coupled to the rear-end member of the needle valve, the mover to move the needle valve, in an axial direction, between: a closed position at which the needle valve contacts the nozzle to close the nozzle; and an open position at which the needle valve is separated from the nozzle to open the nozzle. The needle valve further includes: an axial force generator to generate an axial force to abut the leading-end member against the rear-end member; and an axial center restrictor to restrict a position of an axial center of the leading-end member relative to an axial center of the rear-end member.