Liquid Ejecting Head Joint Member Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads face difficulties in regenerating or reusing head chips due to adhesive residue issues when separating the head chip from the flow path structure, making it challenging to replace or reuse the head chip in ink jet printers.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design incorporating a joint member with a relay flow path that allows for detachable fixation to both the flow path structure and the head chip, using an adhesive around the opening to ensure liquid-tight communication, facilitating easy replacement and reuse of the head chip without adhesive residue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head chip and flow path structure are directly coupled via adhesive, then the liquid-tight coupling is achieved, but adhesive residue is generated when separating them
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a joint member that segments the coupling system into three distinct parts: flow path structure, joint member, and head chip. The joint member acts as an intermediate component that can be detached from either side, allowing the head chip to be replaced without separating it directly from the flow path structure, thus avoiding adhesive residue issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint member serves as an intermediary element between the flow path structure and the head chip. It provides a mediating coupling mechanism where the adhesive is applied only at the joint member interfaces, not directly between the head chip and flow path structure. This intermediary approach enables clean separation and replacement of the head chip.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the head chip is detachably fixed to the flow path structure, then regeneration and reuse become possible, but liquid-tight coupling becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the coupling system with an intermediate joint member, the invention enables the head chip to be detached and reused while maintaining liquid-tight coupling through the joint member's adhesive interfaces. The joint member remains attached to the flow path structure, ensuring continuous liquid-tight connection during head chip replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint member is designed to remain with the flow path structure (the more valuable component), while the head chip (the consumable component) can be discarded and recovered for replacement. This approach allows the expensive flow path structure to be preserved and reused multiple times with different head chips.
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
Enables efficient regeneration and reuse of the liquid ejecting head by preventing adhesive residue and allowing for accurate reattachment of the head chip, improving the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a second joint member having a second relay flow path that communicates with the first coupling flow path and the second coupling flow path, in which the second joint member is detachably fixed to the head chip so that the second coupling flow path and the second relay flow path are coupled to each other, and the first coupling flow path and the second relay flow path liquid-tightly communicate with each other via an adhesive disposed around an opening of the second relay flow path facing the first coupling flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a flow path structure having a first coupling flow path, a first head chip having a second coupling flow path that communicates with first nozzles, and a first joint member having a first relay flow path that communicates with the first coupling flow path and the second coupling flow path, in which the first joint member is detachably fixed to the flow path structure so that the first coupling flow path and the first relay flow path are coupled to each other, and the second coupling flow path and the first relay flow path liquid-tightly communicate with each other via an adhesive disposed around an opening of the first relay flow path facing the second coupling flow path.