Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Bubble Discharge via Gas Permeable Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, bubbles entering the pressure chamber can disrupt the ejection process by flowing into the nozzle, affecting the printing quality, as existing solutions often discharge bubbles through the nozzle, which can lead to ejecting failures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a pressure adjusting unit that includes a storage chamber with a gas permeable unit and an opening-closing valve, allowing bubbles to float into the storage chamber and be discharged through the gas permeable unit, preventing them from reaching the nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bubbles are discharged from the pressure chamber through the liquid ejecting unit, then bubbles can be removed from the system, but the ejecting properties of liquid may be influenced and printing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bubble discharge function from the liquid ejection path by creating a separate discharge path. The pressure chamber is equipped with a dedicated bubble discharge port that leads bubbles away from the nozzle, while the nozzle continues to eject liquid normally. This segmentation allows simultaneous liquid ejection and bubble removal without mutual interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful bubbles from the liquid flow path before they can reach the nozzle. A bubble discharge port is provided in the pressure chamber that allows bubbles to be separated and discharged independently from the liquid ejection process, removing the harmful element without affecting the primary function.
2Reliability
If a pressure adjusting unit is added to regulate ink supply pressure, then liquid supply pressure can be controlled to form proper meniscus, but the apparatus configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the pressure chamber structure. The pressure chamber serves both as a pressure regulation device (controlling liquid supply to the nozzle) and as a bubble collection chamber (with dedicated discharge ports). This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining both pressure control and bubble removal capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure chamber is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs pressure regulation, liquid storage, and bubble discharge functions. This universal design eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, simplifying the overall apparatus configuration.
3Device complexity
If bubbles remain in the liquid ejecting unit or nozzle, then the system structure remains simple, but printing quality deteriorates due to influenced ejecting properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary bubble discharge mechanism between the pressure chamber and the nozzle. This intermediary path allows bubbles to be diverted and discharged separately, preventing them from reaching the nozzle while maintaining the overall simplicity of the system structure.
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
Effectively prevents bubbles from entering the nozzle, ensuring consistent liquid ejection by discharging them externally, thus maintaining printing quality and simplifying the apparatus configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a storage chamber (41) at least a part of which is formed by a gas permeable unit (43)
Implementation Method 2
a pressurizing unit (32) which pressurizes the storage chamber (41) when the opening-closing valve (45) is in the closed state
Implementation Method 3
an opening-closing valve (45) which can be switched from an open state in which the space and the storage chamber are set to a communicating state through the connection flow path (84) to a closed state in which the space and the storage chamber are set to a non-communicating state through the connection flow path (84)
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit which can eject liquid from a nozzle; a supply flow path through which liquid is supplied to the nozzle; a pressure adjusting unit which includes a pressure chamber which can store liquid; a storage chamber at least a part of which is formed by a gas permeable unit, and which stores liquid; a connection flow path which connects a space including a flow path portion from the pressure chamber to the nozzle and the pressure chamber, and the storage chamber; an opening-closing valve which can switch a communicating state between the space and the storage chamber through the connection flow path; and a pressurizing unit which pressurizes the storage chamber when the opening-closing valve is in the closed state.