Nozzle Surface Humidification Layout to Limit Air Temperature Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses face challenges in effectively maintaining the temperature of humidified air supplied to sealed spaces around nozzle surfaces, leading to insufficient humidity retention and potential ink drying.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with a specific positional arrangement of the intake and exhaust ports for air movement paths, ensuring that the intake port faces a designated area on the water surface where humidified air rises, minimizing temperature loss and optimizing the air path configuration to enhance humidity retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If air is moved through a long path from the water surface to the sealed space, then sufficient humidification can be achieved, but temperature drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a vertical path (above water surface) to a horizontal path (below water surface). The first opening portion and second opening portion are both positioned below the water surface, allowing air to be humidified while maintaining temperature by avoiding exposure to ambient air and the thermal gradient near the water surface.
2Device complexity
If the first opening portion is positioned above the water surface for easy access, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions both opening portions below the water surface, utilizing the horizontal dimension rather than vertical arrangement. This allows air intake and exhaust to occur at the same depth level, eliminating the need for air to travel through the temperature gradient zone near the water surface, thus maintaining temperature while achieving humidification.
3Quantity of substance
If air path length is increased to ensure proper humidification, then humidity retention improves, but temperature loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the air path horizontally below the water surface instead of vertically above it. This dimensional change allows the air to travel a sufficient distance for humidification without being exposed to cooling effects from ambient air contact and thermal gradients, thus achieving both adequate humidification and temperature retention.
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 design effectively suppresses temperature drops in humidified air, ensuring consistent humidity levels in sealed spaces, thereby preventing ink drying and maintaining nozzle functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The heater heats the water stored in the tank... humidified air is generated
Implementation Method 2
The pump moves air in the movement path in a direction from the first opening portion toward the second opening portion
Implementation Method 3
air discharged from the second opening portion rises
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus (100) includes a sealing portion (61), a heater (72), a path forming portion, and a pump (76). The sealing portion (61) seals a space along a nozzle surface (33A). The heater (72) heats water (WA1) stored in a tank (71). The path forming portion forms a movement path for air to move from a first opening portion (73A) that opens above a water surface (WA2) of the tank (71), through the sealed space (SP1) sealed by the sealing portion (61), to a second opening portion (75A) that opens below the water surface (WA2). The pump (76) moves air in the movement path in a direction from the first opening portion (73A) to the second opening portion (75A). The first opening portion (73A) and the second opening portion (75A) are arranged in a positional relationship such that the first opening portion (73A) faces a specific range (AR1) on the water surface (WA2) to which air discharged from the second opening portion (75A) rises.