Liquid Ejecting Head Valve Mechanism for Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads require additional mechanisms to forcibly open the flow path, which increases the size of the head due to the need for space to accommodate these mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head with a first valve unit that includes a flexible film and a valve body, where the flexible film is displaceable to open or close the flow path, and the head has a housing with an opening portion to allow external pressure on the flexible film for forcible opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanism is disposed inside the housing to forcibly open the flow path blocked by the valve body, then the flow path can be opened during pressurization cleaning and initial filling, but the size of the liquid ejecting head is increased due to the space required for this mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the forcing mechanism from the internal housing space and relocates it to an external position. Specifically, the forcing mechanism is disposed outside the housing, allowing it to press the flexible film through the forcing mechanism pressing portion without occupying internal space that would increase head size. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining flow path opening capability while eliminating the volume penalty of an internal mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a forcing mechanism pressing portion as an intermediary interface on the housing. This pressing portion allows the external forcing mechanism to transmit force to the flexible film without requiring direct internal mounting. The intermediary structure enables force transmission while keeping the head's internal space minimal, thus resolving the size-ease of operation contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If additional mechanisms are added to the housing to forcibly open the valve, then the flow path can be opened for cleaning and inspection, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the forcing mechanism from the internal housing and placing it externally, the patent reduces the complexity of the internal valve structure. The internal components (flexible film, valve body, flow path) remain simple, while the forcing operation is handled by an external mechanism that interfaces through the forcing mechanism pressing portion. This separation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The forcing mechanism, when disposed externally, can serve multiple functions including pressurization cleaning, initial filling, and printing inspection operations. By designing the forcing mechanism as a separate, external component that interfaces through a standardized pressing portion, the patent enables one mechanism to handle multiple operational requirements, thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to having separate internal mechanisms for each function.
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 design allows for the reduction of the liquid ejecting head's size by eliminating the need for internal mechanisms to forcibly open the flow path, while also simplifying the structure and facilitating easy forcible valve opening.
Implementation Method 1
making a pressure of the liquid in the flow path negative with respect to an atmospheric pressure, deforming the diaphragm in accordance with a differential pressure between the pressure of the liquid in the flow path and the atmospheric pressure outside the diaphragm
Implementation Method 2
the head has a housing with an opening portion to allow external pressure on the flexible film for forcible opening
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a liquid ejecting section, a first-valve-unit adjusting a pressure of liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting section, and a housing accommodating the liquid ejecting section and the first-valve-unit, in which the first-valve-unit includes a first-flow-path communicating with the liquid ejecting section, a first flexible film that has a first-inner-surface defining a part of the first-flow-path and a first-outer-surface being opposite from the first inner surface, and is configured to displace in a first-direction from the first-outer-surface toward the first-inner-surface and in a second-direction opposite to the first-direction, and a first-valve-body that is moved between an opening position and a closing position, due to displacement of the first flexible film, and the housing has a first-opening-portion facing at least a part of the first-outer-surface.