Micro-Valve Sealing Structure for Ink Evaporation Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing technologies, such as continuous inkjet printers, face issues like ink dripping in undesired directions, makeup fluid evaporation, and maintenance requirements due to orifice plate degradation.
Innovation Solution
A jetting assembly with micro-valves that include an orifice plate, an actuating beam with a sealing member, and a fluid manifold, which prevents squeeze film damping and maintains a default closed position to reduce evaporation and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional continuous inkjet printing is used, then printing can be performed, but ink drips in undesired directions causing maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous inkjet stream is segmented into discrete droplets by applying periodic voltage pulses to the deflection electrode, causing the ink stream to break up at regular intervals. This segmentation allows precise control over droplet formation and placement, preventing unwanted ink dripping while maintaining printing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control where the position and timing of droplet deflection are continuously adjusted based on detected deviations from the desired printing path. This ensures that ink is deposited only in the intended locations, eliminating unwanted dripping while preserving printing productivity.
2Productivity
If conventional continuous inkjet printing is used, then printing can be performed, but makeup fluid is lost over time as a result of evaporation requiring continuous replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the continuous ink reservoir and makeup fluid supply system by using a micro-valve array that holds discrete volumes of ink in individual chambers. Each micro-valve controls access to its own ink supply, preventing evaporation losses that occur in open continuous systems while maintaining printing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-valves dynamically open and close to control ink flow from the sealed reservoirs to the orifices only when needed for printing. This dynamic control prevents continuous exposure of ink to air, thereby minimizing evaporation losses while preserving on-demand printing capability.
3Productivity
If conventional continuous inkjet printing is used, then printing can be performed, but orifice plates degrade requiring repair or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a large array of micro-orifices in each orifice plate, where individual orifices can be selectively deactivated if they become clogged or degraded. This effectively creates redundant, disposable-like units within a durable plate structure, maintaining printing capability even when some orifices fail, thereby improving overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
When individual orifices become degraded or clogged, the system can discard (deactivate) those specific orifices and recover printing capability by using the remaining functional orifices. The orifice plate structure itself is preserved and reused, extending its service life while maintaining printing productivity through selective orifice management.
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 solution effectively reduces ink evaporation, minimizes clogging, and allows for faster-drying ink usage, enabling higher printing speeds and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
The cantilevered beam includes one or more piezoelectric layers that facilitate bending of the cantilevered beam in response to the application of one or more electrical signals to the one or more piezoelectric layers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A
AI summary
A micro-valve includes an orifice plate having a first surface, a second surface and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. An actuating beam is disposed in spaced relation to the orifice plate. The actuating beam includes a base portion and a cantilevered portion. The base portion is separated from the orifice plate by a predetermined distance. The cantilevered portion extends from the base portion such that an overlapping portion thereof overlaps the orifice. The actuating beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing structure including a sealing member disposed at the overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion. When the actuating beam is in the closed position, the cantilevered portion is positioned such that the sealing structure seals the orifice so as to close the micro- valve.