Pagewidth Printhead Cartridge for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed pagewidth inkjet printers face challenges in maintaining print quality due to nozzle failures, which can lead to 'dead' nozzles causing artifacts in printed images, as existing active fluidic systems do not address the issue of failed nozzles over the printhead's lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A user-removable printhead cartridge with a pagewidth printhead, fluid couplings for ink and waste ink communication, and an interface plate for multiple ink types, allowing for periodic replacement of the printhead to maintain print quality without replacing the entire printer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pagewidth printhead is used for high-speed printing, then print speed is improved, but nozzle failures occur over time causing print quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The printhead is segmented from the printer body by making it a removable cartridge. This allows the printhead to be replaced independently when nozzles fail, maintaining high print speeds without being constrained by the entire printer's replacement cost. The fluid couplings are also segmented into separate replaceable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The printhead cartridge is designed as a consumable component that can be replaced when nozzles fail. This is economically viable because the cartridge includes integrated fluid couplings and routing, making it a complete replaceable unit that restores full functionality without requiring complex repairs to the expensive printer body.
2Ease of repair
If the printhead is made removable for easy replacement, then ease of repair is improved, but fluid connection reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid couplings are merged with the printhead cartridge body, forming an integrated assembly. This ensures that when the printhead is replaced, the fluid connections are automatically reconfigured through the new cartridge's couplings, maintaining reliable fluid communication without requiring separate connection steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid couplings act as intermediaries between the printhead nozzles and the ink supply/waste outlets. These couplings include features like spouts, sockets, and drainage paths that facilitate reliable fluid transfer while allowing the printhead to be removed and replaced without permanent fluid connection damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ink types are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface plate and fluid coupling system are designed to universally support multiple ink types (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, black). The spouts and sockets are configured to accommodate different ink cartridges, and the drainage paths can handle various ink compositions, making the system adaptable to different printing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the interface plate and fluid coupling system are optimized for specific ink types. For example, specific spouts connect to specific ink tanks, and drainage paths are positioned to efficiently route residual ink from each nozzle group, allowing complex multi-ink functionality through localized specialized features.
Data Source
AI summary
A replaceable printhead cartridge includes: an elongate cartridge body having an elongate structure with a plurality of longitudinally extending channels; a pagewidth printhead mounted on the elongate structure; a first fluid coupling positioned towards one end of the elongate structure; and a second fluid coupling positioned towards an opposite end of the elongate structure. The first and second fluid couplings each has an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket of a printer. The spouts are in fluid communication with the respective ends of corresponding longitudinally extending channels. The spouts extend from respective interface plates in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge body and parallel with a media feed direction.