Liquid Ejecting Head Vertical Flow Channel Stacking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to downsize a liquid discharge head with a large number of discharge holes while maintaining printing resolution, as densely formed flow channels hinder miniaturization and reducing discharge holes compromises printing quality.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flow channel member with a supply manifold and pressurizing chambers connected via individual flow channels, featuring apertures and chambers arranged to minimize size and maximize space efficiency, allowing for efficient liquid discharge from multiple holes without overlapping with the supply manifold, thus enabling downsizing of the head main body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of discharge holes are provided in the liquid discharge head, then printing resolution is improved, but the flow channel becomes densely formed making downsizing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging flow channels in the thickness direction (z-axis) of the head main body rather than only in the plane direction. Multiple flow channels are stacked vertically to supply liquid to discharge holes, allowing dense discharge hole arrangement without increasing planar flow channel density. This vertical stacking enables both high printing resolution and head downsizing by utilizing the third dimension for flow channel organization.
2Reliability
If flow channels are densely formed to supply liquid to many discharge holes, then printing quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flow channel structure into multiple independent flow channels arranged in the thickness direction. Each flow channel independently supplies liquid to specific discharge holes, allowing modular design and simplified manufacturing. This segmentation reduces the complexity of forming densely interconnected flow channels while maintaining reliable liquid supply to all discharge holes for high printing quality.
3Volume of moving object
If discharge holes are reduced to downsize the head, then head size is reduced, but printing resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the thickness direction to arrange multiple flow channels vertically, enabling a large number of discharge holes to be accommodated in a compact planar area. This vertical stacking of flow channels allows the head main body to be downsized in the planar dimensions while maintaining high printing resolution through the increased number of discharge holes supplied by the multi-layer flow channel structure.
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 allows for efficient liquid discharge from a large number of holes, maintaining printing quality while downsizing the head main body, reducing flow channel resistance variations, and ensuring high space efficiency in the flow channel member.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuator substrate 25 having a plurality of displaced elements 38
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid discharge head (8) includes a flow channel member (24) including a first surface (24a) and a second surface (24b) located opposite to the first surface (24a), and a pressing unit located on the first surface (24a). The flow channel member (24) includes a first discharge hole (45) and a second discharge hole (55) located in the second surface (24b), a first individual flow channel (C1) connected to the first discharge hole (45); a first pressurizing chamber (43) located more on an upstream side than the first discharge hole (45) in the first individual flow channel (C1); a second individual flow channel (C2) connected to the second discharge hole (55); a second pressurizing chamber (53) located more on an upstream side than the second discharge hole (55) in the second individual flow channel (C2); and a manifold commonly connected to an upstream side of first individual flow channel (C1) and an upstream side of the second individual flow channel (C2). The first individual flow channel (C1) and the second individual flow channel (C2) have an overlapping portion in plan view.