Liquid Droplet Generation via Laser Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face issues with ink accumulation near nozzles, which affects discharge performance due to the placement of heat generating units within the nozzle, leading to dried ink accumulation and reduced stability in ink discharge.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a head unit that includes nozzles for discharging column-shaped liquids, a liquid droplet generating unit that applies cyclically changing energy using a laser beam separated from the nozzles to generate droplets, and a direction changing unit that alters the flying direction of droplets using a laser beam, reducing ink accumulation and enhancing discharge stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a heat generating unit is provided in the portion of the nozzle from which ink is discharged, then ink can be discharged from the nozzle, but dried ink is likely to be attached and accumulated on an edge of the nozzle, influencing ink discharge performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat generating function from the nozzle structure by introducing a separate laser beam unit that acts on the ink column after ejection. This separation removes the source of ink drying and accumulation from the nozzle, allowing the nozzle to maintain stable ink discharge without the harmful thermal effects that caused dried ink accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a laser beam as an intermediary element that performs the ink ejection function without being part of the nozzle structure. The laser beam acts on the ink column at a position separated from the nozzle, serving as a mediator that enables ink discharge while preventing direct contact and accumulation at the nozzle edge.
2Productivity
If the heat generating unit is placed in the nozzle, then ink ejection is enabled, but the accumulated dried ink reduces discharge performance
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generating function is extracted from the nozzle and implemented as a separate laser beam unit. This allows the nozzle to maintain its ejection function while the laser beam handles the ink column manipulation, preventing dried ink accumulation that would otherwise degrade discharge performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a contact-based heat generating unit within the nozzle to a non-contact laser beam system operating in a different spatial dimension. The laser beam acts on the ink column in the air gap between the nozzle and the target, eliminating the dimensional constraint that caused ink accumulation at the nozzle edge.
3Reliability
If energy is applied to the liquid at positions separated from the nozzles, then accumulation of ink in the vicinity of the nozzles is reduced, but additional components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical heat generating unit that was physically integrated into the nozzle with an optical system (laser beam). This substitution eliminates the need for complex thermal management and physical integration, reducing device complexity while achieving the same ink manipulation function at a separated position.
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 effectively reduces ink accumulation near the nozzles, allowing for stable liquid discharge, high-accuracy droplet generation, and the ability to handle liquids with various characteristics, enabling efficient use and precise control of droplet sizes for printing or three-dimensional object formation.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid droplet generating unit applies cyclically changing energy to positions of column-shaped liquids discharged from the nozzles, which are separated from the nozzles, and that generates liquid droplets
Implementation Method 2
the liquid droplet generating unit may apply the energy to the column-shaped liquid through irradiation with a laser beam
Implementation Method 3
the direction changing unit may change the flying direction of at least some of the liquid droplets through irradiation with a laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head unit that has nozzles that discharge a column-shaped liquid; a liquid droplet generating unit that applies cyclically changing energy to positions of the column-shaped liquids discharged from the nozzles, which are separated from the nozzles, and that generates liquid droplets; and a direction changing unit that changes a flying direction of at least some liquid droplets of the generated liquid droplets.