Piezoelectric Filter Plate Vibration for Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid jetting apparatuses and transporting apparatuses face challenges in effectively removing air bubbles stuck to filters, leading to reduced filter lifespan due to blockage and inefficient purging operations.
Innovation Solution
A filter with a piezoelectric actuator that vibrates a filter plate with through holes, allowing air bubbles and impurities to be trapped and separated from the holes, preventing blockage and extending filter life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter with through holes is used to trap air bubbles and impurities, then impurity removal is improved, but air bubbles adhere to the through holes causing blockage and reducing filter lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a piezoelectric actuator to generate mechanical vibrations in the filter plate. These vibrations create acoustic waves that prevent air bubbles from adhering to the through holes by disrupting the bubble-filter surface contact, thereby eliminating blockage and extending filter lifespan while maintaining effective impurity trapping
2Productivity
If a purge operation is performed to remove air bubbles, then air bubble removal is improved, but air bubbles stuck to through holes cannot be sufficiently removed
Solution Approach 1:
During the purge operation, the piezoelectric actuator vibrates the filter plate at frequencies that resonate with the air bubbles adhered to the through holes. This mechanical vibration detaches the bubbles from the filter surface, allowing them to be effectively removed by the purge flow, thereby significantly improving purge efficiency and preventing filter blockage
3Strength
If the filter plate is made rigid for structural stability, then structural integrity is improved, but vibration effectiveness for bubble removal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the piezoelectric actuator locally to specific regions of the filter plate rather than requiring the entire plate to be flexible. This localized actuation generates sufficient vibrations at the through holes for effective bubble removal while maintaining the overall structural integrity and rigidity of the filter plate for structural stability
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 piezoelectric filter effectively removes air bubbles and impurities, preventing blockage and increasing the lifespan of the filter by ensuring efficient purging and maintaining ink quality in liquid jetting and transporting apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuator which vibrates the filter plate, and which has a piezoelectric layer formed on a surface of the filter plate, and an electrode provided on a surface of the piezoelectric layer
Data Source
AI summary
A filter includes a filter plate provided with a through holes formation portion in which a plurality of through holes is formed, a ring-shaped piezoelectric layer arrangement portion on an upper surface of which a piezoelectric layer is formed, and a circular-shaped fixed portion fixed to a tube, an electrode formed almost on an entire area on an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a protective layer covering the piezoelectric layer and the electrode. When a driving electric potential is applied to the electrode, an electric field is generated in the piezoelectric layer, and the piezoelectric layer is contracted to deform the filter plate. With the deformation of the filter plate, the filter vibrates, and it is possible to release impurities and air bubbles in a liquid trapped in the filter. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a long life of the filter.