Movable Mold Insert Adjuster for Fluid Ejection Die Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

As fluid ejection dies become smaller, manufacturing variances in the dimensions of mold inserts lead to misalignment of fluid supply slots, resulting in reduced production quality and efficiency due to mold flashing.

Innovation Solution

The use of a movable mold insert adjuster that repositions the mold insert within the mold frame to accommodate dimensional variations, ensuring precise alignment of slot-forming protrusions with fluid ejection dies, utilizing interchangeable shims, wedge-shaped end blocks, cams, and actuators to adjust the position of the mold insert.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fluid ejection dies are made smaller to increase density, then productivity increases, but manufacturing variances cause misalignment of fluid supply slots reducing manufacturing precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mold insert is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be adjusted to different positions. The adjuster mechanism enables dynamic repositioning of the mold insert within the mold frame, accommodating dimensional variations and ensuring precise alignment of slot-forming protrusions with fluid ejection dies, thereby resolving the alignment precision issue while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position of the mold insert is changed as a variable parameter rather than being fixed. By allowing the mold insert to be repositioned along the injection direction, the system can compensate for manufacturing variances and achieve precise alignment, thus maintaining both high productivity and manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If dimensional variances in mold inserts are not accommodated, then device complexity remains low, but mold flashing occurs reducing production quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemold structure simplicityVSAvoidslot alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mold insert is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be adjusted to different positions. The adjuster mechanism enables dynamic repositioning of the mold insert within the mold frame, accommodating dimensional variations and ensuring precise alignment of slot-forming protrusions with fluid ejection dies, thereby resolving the alignment precision issue while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position of the mold insert is changed as a variable parameter rather than being fixed. By allowing the mold insert to be repositioned along the injection direction, the system can compensate for manufacturing variances and achieve precise alignment, thus maintaining both high productivity and manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3717260B1Movable mold insert adjuster

Publication Date: 2024.04.10 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2E
Figure 3~4B

AI summary

A mold assembly may include a mold frame having an opening extending in a plane and a movable mold insert adjuster to move a mold insert having a slot forming protrusion within the plane within opening.