Liquid Ejecting Head Fixing Plate Protrusion Uniformization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejecting technologies face issues with non-uniform ejection distances between nozzles due to low flatness of plate materials, leading to reduced printing quality and high manufacturing costs, particularly when using materials with high rigidity and alumina ceramic frames.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejecting head design featuring a fixing plate with head units fixed to one surface and a case member with protrusion portions on the opposite surface, where the case member is integrally molded with resin and the fixing plate is made of stainless steel, using adhesive fixation to achieve uniformization of protrusion heights and reduce manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a plate material with high flatness and rigidity is used to install multiple head units, then differences in ejection distance for each head unit are reduced, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection distance uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into a rigid fixing plate for head unit mounting and a separate case member with protrusion portions that contact the fixing plate. This segmentation allows the fixing plate to provide a stable, flat mounting surface while the case member's protrusion portions can be precisely formed to uniform heights, achieving ejection distance uniformity without requiring the entire assembly to be made from expensive high-precision material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the entire plate material to have high flatness and rigidity, the invention applies local quality by creating protrusion portions on the case member that contact the fixing plate at specific locations. These protrusion portions are formed to have uniform heights, providing localized precision where it is most needed (at the head unit mounting points) while allowing the rest of the structure to use lower-cost materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If alumina ceramic frame modules are used for thermocompression bonding, then head units are securely fixed, but manufacturing costs increase and the nozzle sheet is likely to be deformed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead unit fixation stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and deformation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive alumina ceramic frame modules with a lower-cost case member made from resin or metal. The case member achieves reliable fixation through its protrusion portions that contact the fixing plate and adhesive bonding, eliminating the need for costly ceramic materials while maintaining head unit stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention substitutes the mechanical thermocompression bonding system (which uses heat and pressure through ceramic frames) with a combination of adhesive bonding and mechanical contact through protrusion portions. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature processing that causes nozzle sheet deformation while achieving secure fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design effectively flattens the fixing plate, uniformizes ejection distances, and reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining high printing quality by using stainless steel and resin materials with similar linear expansion coefficients, minimizing thermal stress and deformation.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of head units and the wall portion of the case member be fixed to the fixing plate using an adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

using stainless steel and resin materials with similar linear expansion coefficients, minimizing thermal stress and deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10059107B2Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and manufacturing method of liquid ejecting head

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Provided is a liquid ejecting head including a fixing plate which includes a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, a plurality of head units which are fixed to the second surface such that the head units can eject liquid to the first surface side of the fixing plate, and a case member which includes a wall portion that is formed to surround the head units and fixed to the fixing plate and which has a plurality of protrusion portions formed in a part of the wall portion, which is the portion facing the fixing plate.