Liquid Ejecting Head Curved Flow Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads face inefficiencies in collecting and circulating liquid near nozzles, leading to increased viscosity and settling of components, which affects discharge stability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design featuring a pressurization chamber, first and second flow paths, and a nozzle with an inclined surface at the intersection of these paths, where the second flow path branches from the first, facilitating ink flow and circulation to replace ink in the nozzle, reducing viscosity and maintaining discharge stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid is circulated through a branched flow path in the vicinity of nozzles, then viscosity increase is suppressed, but liquid collection efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a curved flow path that extends from the supply port toward the nozzle along the nozzle arrangement direction. This curved path utilizes centrifugal force and pressure gradients to efficiently collect liquid from the supply port region and guide it toward the nozzle, significantly improving liquid collection efficiency while maintaining discharge stability through continuous circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a third-dimensional curved flow path component that extends in the nozzle arrangement direction, transforming the traditional planar flow path into a three-dimensional structure. This dimensional enhancement allows the flow path to efficiently utilize the space around the nozzle and supply port, improving liquid collection from multiple directions simultaneously.
2Reliability
If liquid circulates through existing flow paths, then component settling is suppressed, but flow path complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the circulation function with the existing supply port and flow path structure by introducing a curved flow path that integrates with the conventional branched flow path design. This unified structure achieves both circulation for component stability and efficient liquid collection without requiring completely separate circulation channels, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head with a supply port and an outlet port includes a pressurization chamber communicating with one of the suplly port and the outlet port, a first flow path communicating with the pressurization chamber and extending in a first axial direction, a second flow path communicating with the other of the supply port and the outlet port and extending in a second axial direction orthogonal to the first axial direction, and a nozzle that is provided to branch from the second flow path and that discharges the liquid along the first axial direction. When viewed in a third axial direction orthogonal to the first axial direction and the second axial direction, an inner wall at a location at which the second flow path and the first flow path intersect includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the first axial direction and the second axial direction.