Liquid Discharge Head Valve Pulse Control for Droplet Placement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent discharge speed and accuracy due to variations in droplet size, primarily because the opening and closing speeds of the discharge valve are not adequately controlled in response to different droplet sizes.
Innovation Solution
A drive controller generates multiple types of drive pulses with varying open times and closing speeds to control the valve of a liquid discharge head, ensuring precise and efficient discharge by adjusting the valve's movement in response to the size of the droplet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive pulse is used for all droplet sizes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the discharge speed consistency and droplet placement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drive pulse parameters dynamic rather than static. The valve opening speed, closing speed, and open time are adjusted dynamically based on the droplet size requirements. This allows the system to adapt to different droplet sizes while maintaining consistent discharge speed and placement precision, resolving the contradiction between simple control and precise operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters of the drive pulse including valve opening speed, closing speed, and open time. By varying these parameters according to droplet size, the system achieves consistent discharge performance across different droplet sizes without requiring complex additional hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and operational precision.
2Quantity of substance
If the valve open time is increased for larger droplets, then the droplet size increases, but the discharge speed varies and placement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting not only the open time but also the valve opening speed and closing speed based on droplet size. For larger droplets, the system increases open time while simultaneously optimizing opening and closing speeds to maintain consistent discharge velocity. This multi-parameter adjustment ensures that droplet size can be varied without compromising placement precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If the valve closing speed is increased, then the discharge speed consistency improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the closing speed adaptive rather than constantly high. The closing speed is dynamically adjusted based on the specific operational requirements and droplet size. This allows the system to achieve consistent discharge speed only when necessary, rather than maintaining high closing speed in all operations, thus reducing overall energy consumption while preserving discharge consistency when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive controller includes circuitry. The circuitry generates multiple types of drive pulses to be applied to a driver of a liquid discharge head including a valve to open and close a discharge port, and applies the multiple types of drive pulses to the driver to cause the driver to move the valve to open and close the discharge port. Each of the multiple types of drive pulses causes the valve to move away from the discharge port at a valve-opening speed to open the discharge port, keep opening the discharge port for an open time, and move toward the discharge port at a valve-closing speed to close the discharge port. Further, the circuitry generates the multiple types of drive pulses, the open time and the valve-closing speed of which are different, and changes the valve-closing speed according to the open time.