Liquid Ejection Manifold Throttle Positioning for Flow Velocity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejection apparatus experiences low liquid flow velocity at the sides of the supply and return manifolds, leading to air entrainment and settlement of particular components, which causes clogging and degrades ejection performance.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a supply manifold, a return manifold, and individual channels with strategically positioned supply and return throttles and a descender, where the openings of these throttles are aligned to overlap the central areas of the manifolds, enhancing liquid flow velocity and facilitating air discharge and component settling prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If individual channels are connected to the ends of supply and return manifolds in the width direction, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but liquid flow velocity becomes low at the sides of the manifolds, causing air entrainment and component settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning supply manifold openings and return manifold openings at different locations along the manifolds. Specifically, supply openings are positioned at different distances from one end of the supply manifold, and return openings are positioned at different distances from one end of the return manifold. This creates localized variations in flow characteristics, ensuring that liquid flows through all individual channels at adequate velocities to prevent air entrainment and component settling, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If pump applies positive pressure to supply manifold, then liquid circulation is maintained, but air entrained in the manifold is not discharged due to low flow velocity at sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions supply manifold openings and return manifold openings at different locations along the manifolds. This differential positioning creates varied flow paths and velocities throughout the manifold system, ensuring that air bubbles are continuously swept through the system by the circulating liquid and discharged at the return manifold, preventing air entrapment while maintaining reliable liquid circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates dynamic flow conditions by strategically positioning openings at different locations, which generates varying flow velocities throughout the manifold system. This dynamic flow pattern prevents stagnant zones where air could accumulate, while the continuous circulation driven by the pump ensures air is constantly moved toward the discharge point.
3Use of energy by moving object
If liquid flow velocity is low in channels, then energy consumption is reduced, but air remains for a long time and components settle causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions openings at different locations along the manifolds to create localized high-velocity flow zones. This ensures that liquid flows through all individual channels at sufficient velocities to prevent air entrapment and component settling, maintaining channel patency and reliability, while the overall system energy consumption remains optimized by only increasing velocity where necessary.
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 configuration maintains proper liquid ejection performance by ensuring high liquid flow velocities at the central areas of the manifolds, preventing air entrainment and component settling, thus reducing clogging and maintaining stable ink ejection.
Implementation Method 1
The supply-manifold-side opening of the supply throttle is positioned to vertically overlap a central area of the supply manifold in a width direction, and the return-manifold-side opening of the return throttle is positioned to vertically overlap a central area of the return manifold in the width direction
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a supply manifold, a return manifold, and a plurality of individual channels. The supply manifold and the return manifold are elongate and vertically overlap each other, and liquid flows therein. Each individual channel connects the supply manifold and the return manifold and includes a supply throttle connected, at a supply-manifold-side opening thereof, to the supply manifold, a return throttle connected, at a return-manifold-side opening thereof, to the return manifold, a nozzle from which liquid is ejected, and a descender connecting the supply throttle and the return throttle, and connected to the nozzle. The supply-manifold-side opening of the supply throttle is positioned to vertically overlap a central area of the supply manifold in a width direction, and the return-manifold-side opening of the return throttle is positioned to vertically overlap a central area of the return manifold in the width direction.