Liquid Ejecting Head Wiring Substrate Connection Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejecting heads, such as ink jet type recording heads, face challenges in compact design due to narrow gaps between communication ports and conductive members, leading to difficulties in connection and increased size.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejecting head design that allows for interconnection of wiring members and substrates without widening the gap between inlets, using a common flow path and specific flow path configurations to ensure compact size and ease of assembly, while reducing the risk of disconnection and extending the wiring member beyond the connection flow path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If two communication ports are disposed in proximity to each other in the head chip, then the head size is reduced, but the connection area between the conductive member and the wiring substrate is narrowed making connection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehead sizeVSAvoidconnection between conductive member and wiring substrate
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the connection flow paths in the longitudinal direction of the head chip, utilizing the length dimension to provide sufficient connection area. The first and second connection flow paths are configured to extend from the first and second communication ports respectively, allowing the conductive member to make reliable contact with the wiring substrate along the extended path direction, thus resolving the space constraint imposed by proximity of communication ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the wiring member is extended outside the connection flow path to ensure connection, then connection reliability is improved, but the head size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidhead size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connection flow paths are pre-configured to extend sufficiently from the communication ports to the wiring substrate connection points. This preliminary arrangement of flow paths ensures that the wiring member can be connected reliably within the compact head structure without requiring extension beyond the connection flow paths, thus maintaining both reliability and compact size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the wiring member is excessively bent to reach the wiring substrate, then connection is achieved, but disconnection risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection achievementVSAvoiddisconnection resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection flow paths are designed with adequate length and appropriate routing from the communication ports to the wiring substrate connection points. This preliminary configuration allows the wiring member to be installed with minimal bending, reducing mechanical stress and the risk of disconnection while still achieving reliable connection within the compact head structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2835261B1Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP2835261B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2835261B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2835261B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid ejecting head includes a head chip in which two or more nozzle groups are disposed in a reference direction (second direction) and a first inlet that communicates with one of the nozzle groups and a second inlet that communicates with the other nozzle group are disposed in the reference direction, a wiring member that is disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet and has one end portion connected to a pressure generating unit and the other end portion extending in the direction opposite to a direction of liquid ejection from a nozzle, a first connection flow path that is connected to the first inlet, a second connection flow path that is connected to the second inlet, and a wiring substrate to which the other end portion of the wiring member is connected between the first connection flow path and the second connection flow path, in which the second connection flow path has an extending flow path that extends from the second inlet toward the reference direction separated from the first inlet, and the wiring substrate is arranged on the side of the second connection flow path opposite to the first inlet from the extending flow path to extend in the reference direction beyond the second connection flow path from between the first connection flow path and the second connection flow path.