Liquid Ejecting Head Return Throttle Channel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejecting heads face issues with deviations in resistance values of supply and return throttle channels due to etching errors, leading to increased manufacturing costs and instability in liquid circulation, particularly when multiple plates are involved in the formation of these channels.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design where the return throttle channel is formed as a through groove by full etching in the return throttle plate, and the return manifold is formed as a through port in the return manifold plate, with direct adherence between the two plates to eliminate measurement errors and reduce the number of plates, thereby stabilizing resistance and minimizing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If half-etching is used to form the supply throttle channel and return throttle channel, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the resistance values deviate from set values due to etching errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional half-etching mechanical/chemical process with a combination of full etching and selective removal process. The return throttle channel is formed by full etching through the plate, and the supply throttle channel is formed by full etching followed by selective removal of the lower portion. This substitution of the etching process enables precise control of resistance values while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Device complexity
If multiple plates are used to form the throttle channels, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple plates into a single integrated plate structure. The return throttle plate and return manifold plate are adhered directly to each other, eliminating the need for additional intermediate plates. This merging reduces the total number of components while maintaining the functional separation of the return throttle channel and return manifold, thereby reducing manufacturing cost without significantly increasing structural complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the return throttle channel is formed by full etching, then the resistance measurement precision is improved, but the number of plates required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the return throttle channel and return manifold into a single integrated structure formed by adhering the return throttle plate directly to the return manifold plate. This merging eliminates the need for additional intermediate plates while maintaining the precision of full etching for the return throttle channel, thus achieving both measurement precision and reduced structural complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If the supply throttle channel is formed by half-etching, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the resistance value deviates from the set value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the half-etching process with a full etching followed by selective removal process for the supply throttle channel. This substitution enables precise control of the channel dimensions and resistance values while maintaining the simplicity of the manufacturing process through a systematic two-step approach.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a stacked body in which plates including a return throttle plate and at least one return manifold plate are stacked. The stacked body is formed with, in the inside thereof: individual channels, a supply manifold, and a return manifold. A supply throttle channel is formed in an upstream end of each of the individual channels, and a return throttle channel is formed in a downstream end of each of the individual channels. A through groove constructing the return throttle channel is formed in the return throttle plate, and a through port constructing the return manifold is formed in the at least one return manifold plate. The return throttle plate and the at least one return manifold plate are adhered directly to each other so as to allow the through groove and the through port to communicate with each other.