Liquid Ejecting Head Nozzle Arrangement for Ink Viscosity Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in managing the ejection of inks with different viscosities, leading to issues such as satellite droplet formation and variations in ejection characteristics due to the inclination of the ejection surface, which affects printing accuracy and quality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with a liquid ejecting head that has multiple nozzle rows for different inks, positioned at varying heights in the gravity direction based on their viscosities, with the nozzle row for the ink with the lowest viscosity positioned above and the nozzle row for the highest viscosity positioned below, and intermediate viscosities positioned between, to minimize satellite droplet attachment and maintain consistent ejection characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ejection surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, then the liquid ejecting head can eject multiple types of inks, but satellite droplet formation and variations in ejection characteristics occur due to different ink viscosities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning nozzle rows at different heights according to the viscosity of each ink type. Specifically, nozzle rows for inks with lower viscosity are positioned higher, while nozzle rows for inks with higher viscosity are positioned lower. This localized differentiation in vertical positioning compensates for the effects of ink viscosity variations on satellite droplet formation and ejection characteristics, thereby maintaining printing accuracy while ejecting multiple ink types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension (height difference in the gravity direction) to the nozzle row arrangement. By positioning nozzle rows at different heights rather than only in horizontal positions, the patent creates a three-dimensional configuration that compensates for viscosity-related ejection variations. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain consistent ejection characteristics across different ink types while preserving the inclined ejection surface configuration.
2Device complexity
If inks with different viscosities are ejected from the same horizontal level, then the device structure is simplified, but satellite droplets attach to other nozzles causing ink mixing and meniscus abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different vertical positions to nozzle rows based on the specific viscosity characteristics of each ink type. This localized positioning strategy ensures that each nozzle row operates under optimized conditions for its specific ink, preventing satellite droplet attachment and meniscus abnormalities while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotential conditions by adjusting the vertical positions of nozzle rows to compensate for viscosity differences. By positioning lower-viscosity inks higher and higher-viscosity inks lower in the gravity direction, the system equalizes the effective ejection conditions across different ink types, eliminating the harmful effects of viscosity variations on ejection characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ejection surface is inclined, then gravity affects ink supply to different nozzle rows differently, but this causes variations in supply ease and ejection characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the vertical positions of nozzle rows according to ink viscosity. This localized positioning adjustment compensates for the differential gravity effects on ink supply to various nozzle rows, ensuring consistent supply ease and ejection characteristics across all nozzle rows while maintaining the inclined ejection surface configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes equipotential conditions for ink supply by strategically positioning nozzle rows at different heights. This arrangement equalizes the gravitational effects on ink supply to different nozzle rows, ensuring that all nozzles receive ink with comparable ease despite the inclined ejection surface, thereby maintaining consistent ejection characteristics.
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 configuration reduces the likelihood of ink mixing and meniscus abnormalities, improving printing accuracy by alleviating variations in ejection characteristics and supply ease across different nozzle rows, resulting in enhanced printing quality.
Implementation Method 1
In the inclined posture, the first nozzle row is positioned above the second nozzle row in a gravity direction
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that has an ejection surface including a first nozzle row configured to eject a first ink and a second nozzle row configured to eject a second ink. The liquid ejecting head is configured to be held in an inclined posture in which the ejection surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The viscosity of the first ink is lower than the viscosity of the second ink, and in the inclined posture, the first nozzle row is positioned above the second nozzle row with respect to a gravity direction.