Liquid Ejecting Head Staggered Chip Laminated Flow Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing liquid ejecting heads, pressure losses vary among flow channels due to differing lengths from a common supply flow channel to individual heads, leading to uneven liquid distribution.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design with staggered arrangement of head chips and laminated distribution flow channels, featuring main and sub-branching flow channels that overlap gaps between chips, reducing pressure losses by optimizing channel lengths and branching positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If flow channels are formed on the same plane with a common supply flow channel, then the structure is simple, but pressure losses vary among flow channels due to different lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional laminated structure. Flow channels are distributed across multiple layers stacked in the vertical direction, allowing channels to be positioned at different heights while maintaining uniform flow distribution. This spatial reconfiguration resolves the pressure loss variation issue by enabling more flexible channel routing and length equalization across multiple planes.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution flow channel is divided into multiple segments arranged in different layers. Each layer contains specific flow channel portions that collectively form the complete distribution network. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's channel geometry to achieve uniform pressure distribution across all outlets.
2Ease of manufacture
If head chips are arranged in parallel lines, then manufacturing is straightforward, but gaps between chips create inefficiencies in liquid distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a staggered arrangement where the second chip line is positioned to fill the gaps between chips in the first chip line when viewed from above. This nesting-like configuration maximizes the utilization of available space and ensures continuous liquid distribution across the entire array of head chips, eliminating dead zones and improving overall distribution efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If flow channel lengths vary to accommodate staggered chip arrangement, then all chips can be supplied evenly, but the distribution flow channel member becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the vertical dimension through lamination, the patent compactly routes flow channels between layers rather than extending them horizontally across large distances. The multiple-layer configuration allows channels to reach all head chips with more uniform lengths by exploiting the third dimension, thereby maintaining compact overall dimensions while achieving even liquid distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes: head chips including first-head-chips being arranged in a first-direction and constituting a first-chip-line and second-head-chips being arranged in the first-direction and constituting a second-chip-line displaced from the first-chip-line in a second-direction being orthogonal to the first-direction; a distribution flow channel includes a main branching flow channel, a first-sub-branching-flow-channel being a flow channel disposed between the main branching flow channel and the head chips in a direction of lamination and configured to communicate with the first-main-branching-portion, the first-sub-branching-flow-channel including a first-sub-branching-portion-A and a first-sub-branching-portion-B which branch off at a first-sub-branching-position, and the first-sub-branching-position overlaps a first-gap defined between the first-head-chips located adjacent to each other when viewed in the direction of lamination.