Liquid Ejecting Head Channel Segmentation for Pressure Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, it is challenging to efficiently transfer pressure from pressure chambers to nozzles due to elongated or bent channels, leading to increased channel resistance and structural crosstalk, which can cause warping of partition walls and deteriorate ink ejection characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejecting head incorporates a first and second pressure chamber, a nozzle channel, and communication channels, along with first and second branch channels that extend in different directions, allowing for efficient pressure transfer and reducing channel resistance while minimizing partition wall warping and structural crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the sectional area of the channel is increased to reduce channel resistance, then pressure transfer efficiency is improved, but partition wall warping and structural crosstalk occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single channel into multiple channels (first channel and second channel) that are arrayed in the first direction. This segmentation allows pressure to be transferred through multiple pathways simultaneously, reducing the sectional area required in each individual channel and thereby preventing partition wall warping while maintaining low channel resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial arrangement where channels extend in different directions (first direction for nozzle channels, second direction crossing the first for communication channels). This dimensional change allows efficient pressure transfer without increasing the sectional area of individual channels, thus avoiding partition wall warping.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the channel is made elongated or bent to route pressure from pressure chamber to nozzle, then layout flexibility is improved, but pressure transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication channel is segmented into a first communication channel extending in a second direction (crossing the first direction) and a second communication channel extending in the first direction. This segmentation allows the pressure path to be divided into orthogonal segments, achieving layout flexibility while maintaining efficient pressure transfer through multiple short pathways.
3Device complexity
If the number of channels is reduced to one, then device complexity is reduced, but structural crosstalk occurs due to partition wall warping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel system into multiple channels (first channel, second channel, first communication channel, second communication channel) that are arrayed in the first direction. This segmentation increases the number of independent pressure transfer pathways, which prevents partition wall warping and thereby eliminates structural crosstalk between adjacent channels.
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 configuration enables stable and efficient ink ejection with reduced channel resistance and minimized structural crosstalk, maintaining consistent ejection characteristics over time.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure chamber that applies pressure to liquid, and a channel that communicates with the pressure chamber and that is provided with a nozzle that ejects liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes: a first pressure chamber that applies pressure to a liquid; a second pressure chamber that applies pressure to the liquid; a nozzle channel that extends in a first direction and includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid; a first communication channel that extends in a second direction crossing the first direction and enables the first pressure chamber and the nozzle channel to communicate with each other; a second communication channel that extends in the second direction and enables the second pressure chamber and the nozzle channel to communicate with each other; and a first branch channel that has a portion extending in the first direction and enables the first pressure chamber and the nozzle channel to communicate with each other through a path different from a path of the first communication channel.