Nozzle Plate Cutting Using Circular Punching Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cutting nozzle plates in inkjet printers often result in projections on the nozzle plate's surface, which can interfere with wiper mechanisms and affect printing quality, and have limitations in manufacturing accuracy due to the use of non-circular tools.
Innovation Solution
A method using a punching tool with a circular transverse section to remove all bridge pieces and the border regions between them, ensuring no projections on the nozzle plate's surface, thereby preventing wiper interference and improving manufacturing accuracy by allowing for a more precise metal mold design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a punching tool with non-circular cross section is used to cut the nozzle plate, then the cutting process can be completed, but manufacturing accuracy deteriorates due to corner roundness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by specifying that the punching tool has a circular transverse section rather than a non-circular one. This circular geometry allows the tool to punch out bridge pieces and border regions completely without creating corner roundness issues that would compromise manufacturing accuracy. The circular cross-section enables precise control of the punching process while maintaining high manufacturing accuracy.
2Device complexity
If bridge pieces and border regions are not completely removed, then the cutting process is simpler, but projections remain on the nozzle plate surface causing wiper interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by extracting and removing not only the bridge pieces but also the entire border regions between the bridge pieces and the nozzle plate. The punching tool is designed to completely remove these connection regions, eliminating any projections that would interfere with the wiper mechanism. This complete extraction ensures that no harmful projections remain on the nozzle plate surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by performing the punching operation in a preliminary stage to remove all bridge pieces and border regions before subsequent manufacturing steps. This preliminary removal action prevents projections from being created later in the manufacturing process, thereby avoiding wiper interference in the final product.
3Manufacturing precision
If flash is not minimized on the ink ejecting face, then the punching process is less precise, but component attachment is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a circular transverse section for the punching tool, which enables precise punching operations that minimize flash formation on the ink ejecting face. The circular geometry provides uniform pressure distribution and precise material removal, resulting in minimal flash that does not interfere with subsequent component attachment operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A nozzle plate cutting off method for cutting off the nozzle plate (28) from a primary processing plate (30) including a frame body (29), a nozzle plate (28) which has multiple nozzle holes (43) for ejecting droplets and is separately arranged inside the frame body, and a connection portion (29a) arranged at a clearance between the frame body and the nozzle plate to connect the frame body to the nozzle plate. In the nozzle plate cutting off method, a punching tool (50) is used to punch out the nozzle plate at a connection region of the connection portion with the nozzle plate, thereby cutting off the nozzle plate from the primary processing plate.