Liquid Ejection Device Dehumidification for Nozzle Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid ejection devices face nozzle clogging due to hygroscopic properties of solvents, particularly when water vapor is present, causing pigments to swell or condense and become foreign matter.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejection device with a dehumidification portion that dehumidifies the atmosphere inside the liquid accommodation portion, cap, and atmosphere flow path, coupled with a cap that forms a communicating space with the nozzle, to maintain a dehumidified state and prevent nozzle clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cap is used to moisturize the liquid ejection portion by contact with vaporized solvent, then the nozzle moisturization function is improved, but water vapor in the atmosphere causes pigment to become foreign matter and clog the nozzle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle functionVSAvoidwater vapor

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dehumidification portion that actively removes water vapor from the atmosphere inside the cap, creating a dehumidified environment. This inert-like atmosphere prevents the harmful interaction between water vapor and pigment while preserving the beneficial solvent vapor for nozzle moisturization, thus resolving the contradiction between moisture protection and water vapor harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The dehumidification portion extracts and removes water vapor from the atmosphere inside the cap separately from the solvent vapor. By taking out only the harmful water vapor component while retaining the useful solvent vapor, the system maintains nozzle moisturization functionality while eliminating the clogging problem caused by water vapor-induced pigment foreign matter formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the atmosphere inside the cap contains water vapor, then solvent vapor can be supplied for moisturization, but pigment in the liquid becomes foreign matter causing nozzle clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle moisturizationVSAvoidnozzle cleanliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By creating a dehumidified atmosphere inside the cap through the dehumidification portion, the system establishes an environment that is inert to the harmful hygroscopic reaction of pigment while still allowing solvent vapor to interact with the nozzle for moisturization. This resolves the contradiction between ease of moisturization operation and manufacturing precision of nozzle cleanliness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Quantity of substance

If water is present in the liquid containing solvent, then the liquid can be supplied, but the pigment becomes foreign matter due to hygroscopicity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid supplyVSAvoidhygroscopicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dehumidification portion creates a dehumidified atmosphere that acts as an inert environment, preventing the hygroscopic reaction between water vapor and pigment in the liquid. This allows the liquid containing solvent and pigment to be supplied and stored without the harmful effect of water vapor causing pigment to become foreign matter, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining liquid supply and preventing hygroscopic damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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

The dehumidification effectively reduces the risk of nozzle clogging by maintaining a dehumidified atmosphere within the cap, allowing vaporized solvent to be reused for nozzle moisturization, thereby extending the device's operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a dehumidification portion configured to dehumidify an atmosphere inside at least any one of the liquid accommodation portion, the cap, and the atmosphere flow path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDehumidification: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The present inventors have discovered that a liquid containing a solvent has hygroscopicity and that, when the liquid containing a solvent contains water, a pigment in the liquid becomes foreign matter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHygroscopicity: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

the cap moisturizes the liquid ejection portion by coming into contact with the liquid ejection portion in a state in which a vaporized solvent is supplied

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS20240253356A1Liquid ejection device

Publication Date: 2024.08.01 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejection device is a liquid ejection device to which a liquid accommodation portion accommodating a liquid containing a solvent is attached, and includes a liquid ejection portion in which a nozzle that ejects the liquid is open, a cap that forms a space communicating with the nozzle by coming into contact with the liquid ejection portion, an atmosphere flow path coupled to the liquid accommodation portion and the cap, and a dehumidification portion that dehumidifies an atmosphere inside at least any one of the liquid accommodation portion, the cap, and the atmosphere flow path.