Liquid Discharge Head Flow Path Network for Balanced Nozzle Ink Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharging heads in inkjet printers face issues with uneven ink flow rates due to higher resistance in individual flow paths, leading to potential ink viscosity increases and inefficient supply and collection, which can affect printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging head design with multiple individual flow paths connected by four common flow paths and controlled by a pressure adjusting device, ensuring balanced pressure conditions to maintain optimal ink flow and prevent viscosity changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual flow paths are used for each nozzle, then liquid discharge control precision is improved, but flow path resistance increases causing uneven ink flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path system is segmented into multiple parallel paths: individual flow paths for each nozzle and common flow paths that serve multiple nozzles. This segmentation allows independent control of individual nozzles while providing alternative routes for liquid flow, reducing the bottleneck effect of high resistance in individual flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Common flow paths act as intermediary channels between the liquid supply and individual nozzles. These common flow paths have lower resistance and serve as mediators to balance the flow distribution, ensuring that ink reaches each nozzle at appropriate rates even when individual flow paths have high resistance.
2Device complexity
If common supply and collection flow paths are used, then device complexity is reduced, but flow path resistance becomes lower causing insufficient liquid circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path system is divided into individual flow paths and common flow paths, creating a hierarchical structure. This segmentation ensures that while the overall structure remains simple, the individual components can perform specialized functions: individual paths provide precise control while common paths provide efficient circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path design transitions from a single-dimension linear flow to a multi-dimensional network with parallel individual paths and common paths. This dimensional expansion provides multiple flow routes, increasing liquid circulation efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity through the organized arrangement of paths.
3Manufacturing precision
If individual flow paths have higher resistance, then flow control precision is improved, but ink viscosity increases due to insufficient circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The common flow paths provide continuous circulation of liquid through the system, ensuring that ink is constantly moved and mixed. This continuous action prevents ink from stagnating and increasing in viscosity, while the individual flow paths maintain precise control during discharge operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Common flow paths serve as intermediaries that facilitate continuous liquid circulation between the liquid supply and individual nozzles. These paths ensure adequate liquid flow to prevent viscosity increases while the individual flow paths maintain control precision during actual discharge.
4Productivity
If flow path resistance is reduced in common paths, then liquid flow rate is improved, but individual nozzle control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path system is segmented into individual flow paths with higher resistance for precise nozzle control and common flow paths with lower resistance for efficient liquid transport. This segmentation allows each path type to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the flow path system have different resistance characteristics tailored to their specific functions. Individual flow paths have higher resistance to enable precise control, while common flow paths have lower resistance to maximize liquid flow rate. This local optimization of quality attributes resolves the contradiction.
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 design ensures consistent and efficient ink supply and discharge from nozzles, reducing viscosity issues and enhancing printing quality by maintaining uniform flow rates across all nozzles.
Implementation Method 1
a control device that controls a pressure adjusting device and controls the discharging of the liquid from the liquid discharging head, the pressure adjusting device adjusting pressure in the first flow path, pressure in the second flow path, pressure in the third flow path, and pressure in the fourth flow path
Data Source
AI summary
a first flow path communicating with the first common flow path, the liquid being supplied to the first common flow path through the first flow path; a second flow path communicating with the first common flow path more on one side in the first direction than the first flow path is, the liquid being collected from the first common flow path through the second common flow path; a third flow path communicating with the second common flow path, the liquid being supplied to the second common flow path through the third flow path; and a fourth flow path communicating with the second common flow path more on the other side in the first direction than the third flow path is, the liquid being collected from the second common flow path through the fourth flow path.