Liquid Discharge Head With Flexible Damping for Uniform Multi-Nozzle Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

When liquid ink is simultaneously discharged from multiple nozzles, the droplet velocity and droplet amount can vary, leading to inconsistent discharge.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge head with a common liquid chamber, multiple nozzles, vibration generators, and a flexible member that absorbs vibrations to reduce variations in droplet velocity and amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If liquid ink is simultaneously discharged from multiple nozzles, then productivity is improved, but droplet velocity and droplet amount vary leading to manufacturing precision deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge speedVSAvoiddroplet velocity consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid chamber is divided into multiple independent liquid chambers, each communicating with specific nozzles through partition walls. This segmentation isolates the liquid supply paths, preventing vibration transmission between adjacent nozzles while maintaining simultaneous discharge capability, thus improving droplet velocity consistency without sacrificing productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the liquid chamber are structured with partition walls to create localized liquid chambers for each nozzle or nozzle group. This local structuring allows each nozzle to have its own dedicated liquid supply path, ensuring uniform droplet characteristics while enabling simultaneous discharge from multiple nozzles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If liquid ink is simultaneously discharged from multiple nozzles, then productivity is improved, but droplet amount consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge speedVSAvoiddroplet amount consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Partition walls serve as intermediary structures between adjacent liquid chambers. These walls physically separate the liquid columns, acting as barriers that prevent vibration from one nozzle from affecting adjacent nozzles, thereby ensuring consistent droplet amount across multiple simultaneously discharging nozzles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 flexible member effectively attenuates vibrations, ensuring uniform and accurate application of liquid from multiple nozzles, reducing discharge state variations.

Implementation Method 1

The vibration generator is vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the liquid ink to generate surface tension waves in the liquid ink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension waves: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

The multiple vibration generators individually vibrate the vibration film around the multiple nozzles, respectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

The flexible member is deformable by the liquid in the common liquid chamber vibrated by the vibration film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration attenuation: Damping

Implementation Method 4

The flexible member is deformable by the liquid in the common liquid chamber vibrated by the vibration film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS20260097582A1Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A liquid discharge head includes a common liquid chamber having multiple liquid chambers communicating with each other through the common liquid chamber, a vibration film having multiple nozzles, multiple vibration generators, and a flexible member. The common liquid chamber stores a liquid. The multiple nozzles respectively communicate with the multiple liquid chambers. The multiple vibration generators individually vibrate the vibration film around the multiple nozzles, respectively. The flexible member is opposed to the multiple nozzles in the common liquid chamber. The flexible member is deformable by the liquid in the common liquid chamber vibrated by the vibration film.