Liquid Ejection Head Multi-Color Mixing Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads, such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Publication JP 2013 067178 A, are not capable of handling multiple kinds of liquids simultaneously without causing them to mix, leading to color contamination in applications like inkjet printing.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejection head is designed with multiple pressure chambers and circulation passages for each color, allowing independent flow paths and circulation passages to prevent mixing by using a common manifold for supply and separate manifolds for return, ensuring each color's liquid flows through dedicated paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common inlet tube is used for multiple pressure chambers handling different liquids, then device complexity is reduced, but liquid mixing occurs causing color contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single inlet tube into multiple separate inlet tubes, with each inlet tube dedicated to a specific pressure chamber. This segmentation prevents different liquids from mixing while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic organization of the separate tubes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate circulation passages are provided for each pressure chamber, then liquid mixing is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the circulation passages of multiple pressure chambers into a single common circulation passage. This allows different liquids to circulate independently through their respective pressure chambers while returning through a shared passage, preventing mixing while reducing the total number of circulation passages needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pressure chambers are configured for single liquid flow, then liquid mixing is avoided, but adaptability to handle multiple colors is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures each pressure chamber to handle a specific liquid type with dedicated inlet and circulation passages, while the overall system maintains multi-color capability through modular arrangement. Each chamber is specialized for one color, but the system as a whole can handle multiple colors simultaneously through parallel chamber operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid ejection head includes a plurality of sets of a first row, a second row, and a flow path in communication with the first row and the second row. Each of the plurality of sets are provided for each respective one of a plurality of kinds of liquids different from one another. The first row includes a plurality of first pressure chambers. The second row includes a plurality of second pressure chambers. The second row is positioned beside the first row. The flow path is in communication with the plurality of first pressure chambers and the plurality of second pressure chambers. The flow path includes a plurality of first communication passages, a plurality of second communication passages, a plurality of third communication passages, a plurality of fourth communication passages, a first manifold, a second manifold, and a common manifold.