Liquid Ejection Head with Dual Pressure Adjustment for Color-Mixing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection systems face issues with color mixing due to residual pressure differences after circulation stops, leading to ink flow and potential contamination during operations like wiping or suction recovery, necessitating a wait time to prevent color mixing.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head design with dual pressure adjustment units, where the first pressure control chamber maintains a higher pressure than the second, using flexible members and pressing plates to control valve openings, ensuring controlled pressure differentials and minimizing ink flow during circulation cessation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circulation pump and two pressure control mechanisms are used to maintain constant pressure, then pressure control is improved, but color mixing occurs during operations after printing due to residual pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter by making the controlled pressure in the first pressure adjustment unit higher than in the second pressure adjustment unit. This pressure differential prevents residual ink flow after circulation stops, eliminating color mixing during post-printing operations while maintaining reliable pressure control during printing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a wait time is set to prevent color mixing during operations after printing, then color mixing is prevented, but throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a pressure differential between the two pressure adjustment units before printing operations begin. This pre-configured pressure difference ensures that when circulation stops, no residual pressure difference remains that could cause ink flow, allowing immediate post-printing operations without wait time and maintaining high throughput.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the pressure reception area of the second flexible member and second pressing plate is made smaller, then color mixing is prevented by faster pressure equalization, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the pressure reception area of the second flexible member and second pressing plate smaller than that of the first pressure adjustment unit. This localized structural difference creates asymmetric pressure response characteristics that prevent residual pressure differences after circulation stops, eliminating color mixing while maintaining overall system simplicity through targeted local modification rather than complete redesign.
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 prevents color mixing by managing pressure differentials effectively, allowing immediate operations without wait times, enhancing throughput and reducing the risk of ink contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a first flexible member provided at a surface opposite to the first opening, a first pressing plate configured to be displaced in conjunction with the first flexible member... a second flexible member provided at a surface opposite to the second opening, a second pressing plate configured to be displaced in conjunction with the second flexible member
Implementation Method 2
first biasing member configured to bias the first pressing plate in a direction in which a volume of the first pressure control chamber increases
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head has an ejection module including a pressure chamber and an ejection element configured to eject a liquid in the pressure chamber, a supply channel, a collection channel connected to the supply channel through a pressure chamber, a first pressure adjustment unit, a second pressure adjustment unit, and a circulation pump. A controlled pressure in the first pressure adjustment unit is set higher than a controlled pressure in the second pressure adjustment unit. A pressure reception area of a second flexible member and a second pressing plate in a second pressure control chamber in a case where a second opening is brought into an open state is smaller than a pressure reception area of a first flexible member and a first pressing plate in a first pressure control chamber in a case where a first opening is brought into an open state.