Liquid Drop Ejecting Head Water-Repellent Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing liquid drop ejecting heads face challenges with high maintenance costs and ink residue issues due to uniform water-repellent processing on both the nozzle formation member and nozzle cover, leading to increased costs and potential paper surface contamination.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a liquid drop ejecting head design where the outer circumferential part of the nozzle formation member is covered with a protection member and the nozzle cover receives a water-repellent process, allowing for different materials and processes to be used, reducing maintenance complexity and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If water-repellent processing is provided on both the nozzle formation member and nozzle cover using the same process, then processing uniformity is improved, but processing cost and maintenance complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of water-repellent processingVSAvoidprocessing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different water-repellent processing methods to different components: the nozzle formation member receives a first water-repellent process while the nozzle cover receives a second water-repellent process. This local differentiation allows each component to be treated according to its specific requirements, reducing overall processing cost while maintaining necessary functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If water-repellent processing is provided on the outer circumferential part of the nozzle formation member, then ink residue accumulation is reduced, but processing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveink residue accumulationVSAvoidfilm thickness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the water-repellent processing into two distinct parts: the nozzle formation member and the nozzle cover. By placing the outer circumferential protection function on the nozzle cover rather than the nozzle formation member, the patent reduces the precision requirements for the critical nozzle areas while still preventing ink residue accumulation on external surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the same water-repellent process is used on all surfaces, then processing simplicity is improved, but ink residue contamination of paper surface occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidpaper surface contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality differentiation by applying water-repellent processing to specific surfaces: the nozzle cover's outer and inner surfaces facing the nozzle formation member, and the head base's upper surface. This targeted approach prevents ink residue from reaching the paper surface while avoiding unnecessary processing on other areas, balancing simplicity with effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 approach decreases processing costs and maintains high image quality by simplifying the water-repellent processing on the nozzle formation member and nozzle cover, preventing ink residue and paper surface contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a water-repellent layer formed by a water-repellent process different from the first water-repellent process is formed on a surface of the outer circumferential part of the nozzle formation member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater-repellent processing: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP1855885B1Liquid drop ejecting head and image forming apparatus, liquid drop ejecting apparatus, recording method
Publication Date: 2013.06.19 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP1855885B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1855885B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1855885B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Since the same water-repellent process is provided on the nozzle forming part and the outer circumferential part of the nozzle formation member, same process as for the nozzle forming part is needed for the outer circumferential part which is not limited for its structural demand thereby the manufacturing process is complicated and needs high cost. The first water-repellent layer 41 due to the first water-repellent process is formed on the surface of the nozzle forming part 31 formed the nozzle 4 of the surface of the nozzle plate 2, and the second water-repellent layer 42 due to the second water-repellent process different from the first water-repellent process is formed on the surface of the outer circumferential part (outer portion of surface) of the nozzle plate 2. Materials and processes, in which the second water- repellent layer can be formed using simple manufacturing process, can be selected for the second water-repellent process.