Load Absorbing Unit for Liquid Ejecting Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face issues with heat generation from driving substrates causing nozzle clogging and applying unwanted loads to the ejecting units, as heat transfer and substrate positioning configurations often lead to adverse effects.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a load absorbing unit with an elastic body to reduce the force applied to the ejecting unit from the driving substrate side, and using accommodating units to manage the positioning of the ejecting, driving, and control substrates, while allowing for movement regulation to prevent heat transfer and load application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the driving substrate is disposed in the vicinity of the ejecting unit to transmit drive force, then the drive transmission efficiency is improved, but heat generated from the driving substrate is transferred to the ejecting unit causing nozzle clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive transmission efficiencyVSAvoidheat transfer to ejecting unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A load absorbing unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the driving substrate and the ejecting unit. This load absorbing unit absorbs physical loads including heat from the driving substrate, preventing heat transfer to the ejecting unit while still allowing drive force transmission. The load absorbing unit acts as a mediator that selectively transmits mechanical drive forces while blocking thermal energy transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The carriage structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a driving substrate accommodating unit that houses the driving substrate, a load absorbing unit that intercepts heat and loads, and an ejecting unit accommodating unit that protects the ejecting unit. This spatial segmentation allows the driving substrate to operate close to the ejecting unit for efficient drive transmission while physically separating the heat sources through intermediate structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the driving substrate is disposed close to the ejecting unit for compact design, then the device complexity is reduced, but physical loads are applied to the ejecting unit from the driving substrate side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarriage structure complexityVSAvoidphysical load on ejecting unit
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The load absorbing unit serves as a mediator that absorbs physical loads including pushing forces and pulling forces from the driving substrate before they reach the ejecting unit. This intermediary structure protects the ejecting unit from unwanted mechanical loads while maintaining the compact carriage design where the driving substrate remains in proximity to the ejecting unit for efficient drive transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The load absorbing unit provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing physical loads from the driving substrate before these loads can affect the ejecting unit. This protective measure is built into the carriage structure in advance, ensuring that the ejecting unit is always protected from unwanted mechanical forces during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the driving substrate is erected with respect to the ejecting unit to prevent heat transfer, then heat transfer is reduced, but physical loads are applied to the ejecting unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer preventionVSAvoidphysical load on ejecting unit
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The load absorbing unit acts as a dual-function intermediary: it absorbs heat from the driving substrate to prevent heat transfer to the ejecting unit, and simultaneously absorbs physical loads including pushing and pulling forces. This single intermediary component resolves both the heat transfer problem and the physical load problem that arise from erecting the driving substrate relative to the ejecting unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The load absorbing unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a thermal barrier to prevent heat transfer and as a mechanical buffer to absorb physical loads. This universal component addresses multiple problems (heat transfer and physical loads) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate protective structures for each issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Effectively suppresses the application of loads and heat transfer from the driving substrate to the ejecting unit, reducing the risk of clogging and improving the operational stability of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

the load absorbing unit includes the elastic body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3368318B1Liquid ejecting apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3368318B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3368318B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3368318B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A load applied to an ejecting unit from a driving substrate side is suppressed. A liquid ejecting apparatus (1) which ejects liquid onto a medium includes a carriage (6) which includes a control substrate (41) configuring at least a part of a control unit (23) which controls driving of the entire liquid ejecting apparatus (1), an ejecting unit (7) which ejects the liquid, and a driving substrate (40) which is connected to the control substrate (41) and the ejecting unit (7), and drives the ejecting unit (7), in which the carriage (6) is provided with a load absorbing unit (42) which absorbs a physical load with respect to the ejecting unit (7) from the driving substrate (40) side. By adopting the liquid ejecting apparatus (1) with such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a load from being applied to the ejecting unit (7) from the driving substrate (40) side.