Liquid Ejecting Head With Overlapping Chambers for Dense Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet recording heads with overlapping ink pools in the up-down direction face challenges in maintaining nozzle density while reducing the head's size and ensuring adequate ink supply to individual channels.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a channel member with common and individual channels arranged in orthogonal directions, where first and second pressure chambers overlap, and nozzles are positioned to overlap with pressure chambers in the up-down direction, allowing high-density nozzle placement without increasing the head's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink pools are disposed in an overlapping manner in the up-down direction to increase nozzle density, then nozzle density is improved, but the height of the recording head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar arrangement of ink pools to a three-dimensional overlapping arrangement in the up-down direction. Multiple ink pools are positioned at different heights, allowing nozzles to be densely packed vertically while maintaining adequate ink supply volume in each pool. This spatial reorganization resolves the contradiction by utilizing the vertical dimension to increase nozzle density without proportionally increasing overall head height.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where individual channels are positioned within the vertical space between overlapping ink pools. The first individual channels are located between the first and second ink pools, while second individual channels are positioned between the second and third ink pools. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to occupy the same vertical envelope, increasing nozzle density without linearly increasing head height.
2Length of stationary object
If the height of ink pools is reduced to decrease recording head height, then head height is improved, but the volume of ink pools is reduced causing ink supply shortage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing ink pool height unilaterally, the patent distributes multiple ink pools across the vertical dimension. Each individual channel row is associated with specific ink pools at different heights, ensuring adequate ink supply volume is maintained across the stacked configuration. This approach preserves total ink supply capacity while enabling a more compact horizontal footprint.
3Productivity
If individual channels are arranged to overlap in the up-down direction to increase density, then channel density is improved, but pressure chamber positioning becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure chamber system into distinct groups associated with specific ink pool pairs. First pressure chambers connect to first and second ink pools, while second pressure chambers connect to second and third ink pools. This segmentation simplifies the overall arrangement by creating modular connection patterns, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from a fully interconnected overlapping configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a channel member having: a common channel extending in a first direction orthogonal to an up-down direction; and individual channels. Individual channel rows each including the individual channels aligned in the first direction are disposed side by side in a second direction orthogonal to the up-down direction and the first direction. A first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber overlap in the second direction. A first nozzle included in the first individual channel row and a second nozzle included in the second individual channel row are located on one side in the second direction with respect to the common channel. The first nozzle is located closer to the common channel than the second nozzle is in the second direction, and the first nozzle overlaps with the second pressure chamber in the up-down direction.