Liquid Ejecting Head Non-Overlapping Inlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads, such as ink jet type recording heads, face challenges in ensuring a sufficient thickness and strength of the flow path member due to constraints in reducing size, leading to inadequate adhesion area and flow path formation.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design with a pressure generating chamber group and a case member that includes non-overlapping liquid inlets for first and second liquid discharge units, allowing for a narrow gap between nozzle rows and sufficient thickness of the flow path member, which is further enhanced by integrating filters and optimizing the arrangement of flow paths and manifolds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the adjacent inlet is close to reduce head size, then the overall size is reduced, but the sufficient thickness and strength of the flow path member cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of inlets to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement where inlets are positioned at different locations and orientations. By arranging inlets on different sides of the pressure generating chamber group and utilizing vertical spacing, the design achieves compact horizontal dimensions while maintaining sufficient flow path member thickness through strategic three-dimensional positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the liquid supply system into multiple separate inlets positioned at different locations around the pressure generating chamber group. This segmentation allows each inlet to have its own dedicated flow path connection, ensuring sufficient thickness and strength for each flow path member while maintaining overall compactness through distributed inlet placement.
2Volume of moving object
If the adjacent inlet is close to reduce head size, then the overall size is reduced, but the area of adhesion is insufficient between the case member and the flow path member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement to position inlets at different locations and orientations, allowing the flow path member to connect to multiple inlet positions without requiring large planar adhesion areas. The vertical and angular distribution of inlet connections compensates for the reduced horizontal space available for adhesion.
3Strength
If the flow path member thickness is increased to ensure strength, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the overall size of the head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thickness specifications to different regions of the flow path member based on local structural requirements. Critical areas requiring strength have increased thickness, while non-critical areas maintain reduced thickness to minimize overall head size. This localized quality optimization ensures strength where needed without uniformly increasing dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a liquid discharge unit with a pressure generating chamber group which communicates with a nozzle disposed on a nozzle surface and is formed from pressure generating chambers disposed in a first direction, and a case member which communicates with the pressure generating chamber group and holds a liquid. The case member has a liquid inlet on the side opposite to the liquid discharge direction and at a position between the pressure generating chambers at both ends in the first direction. First and second liquid discharge units are arranged at positions where the first directions of the first and second liquid discharge units are parallel to each other in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, and positions of the liquid inlets of the case member respectively corresponding to the first and second liquid discharge units do not overlap in the second direction.