Micro-Valve Sealing Structure for Evaporation-Resistant Jetting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional continuous inkjet printers face issues such as ink dripping away from the target, fluid evaporation leading to continuous replenishment needs, and maintenance costs due to orifice plate degradation.

Innovation Solution

A micro-valve design featuring an orifice plate with an actuating beam and a sealing structure, where the actuating beam is movable between closed and open positions, sealing the orifice by default to prevent evaporation and clogging, using a cantilevered portion and a sealing member to form a seal without electrical energy application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional continuous inkjet system operates with open orifices, then fluid can flow continuously for printing, but evaporation occurs and requires continuous replenishment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidfluid evaporation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The micro-valve is pre-configured in a default closed position that seals the orifice before printing operations begin. This preliminary sealing action prevents evaporation and clogging proactively, allowing the system to switch to an open state only when printing is required, thus eliminating continuous fluid replenishment needs while maintaining high printing speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the micro-valve uses a default sealed position without electrical actuation, then evaporation is reduced and printing speeds increase, but the mechanism for opening/closing the valve must be mechanically reliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve sealing reliabilityVSAvoidactuating mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating beam is designed to respond automatically to applied voltages, opening the valve when voltage is applied and returning to the closed position when voltage is removed. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for complex external actuators or continuous electrical power to maintain the sealed position, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable sealing through the beam's inherent mechanical properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using an open-valve-as-default design that requires active actuation to seal, the invention inverts the approach by making the closed-valve position the default state. The valve opens only when voltage is applied to the actuating beam, reversing the conventional logic and enabling the sealed position to be maintained passively without electrical power, thus improving reliability and reducing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If faster-drying inks are used to enable higher printing speeds, then productivity increases, but evaporation losses increase without proper sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidevaporation loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is pre-configured to close the orifice before printing operations begin and between printing cycles. This preliminary sealing prevents evaporation of faster-drying inks that would otherwise occur rapidly in open systems, allowing the use of high-speed inks without the energy loss associated with continuous evaporation and replenishment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 micro-valve design reduces evaporation, minimizes clogging, and allows for faster-drying inks to be used, enabling higher printing speeds and reducing maintenance costs by maintaining a default sealed position without electrical actuation.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing member is aligned with the orifice plate and the sealing structure forms a seal between the orifice and a volume proximate to the actuating beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical sealing:

Implementation Method 2

The actuating beam is movable between a closed position and an open position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11479041B2Systems and methods for sealing micro-valves for use in jetting assemblies

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP

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.