Piezoelectric Inkjet Nozzle with Variable Vibration Plate Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid droplet-jetting apparatuses face complexity in changing jetting characteristics for different nozzles, requiring complicated channel structures and voltage configurations, which complicates the design and increases circuit complexity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid droplet-jetting apparatus with a channel unit having identical channel structures for nozzles with different jetting characteristics, utilizing a piezoelectric actuator with varying thicknesses and electrode configurations to apply different pressures to pressure chambers, allowing for adjustable droplet volumes without altering the channel structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the structure of the channel communicated with the nozzle is changed for each nozzle to adjust jetting characteristics, then the jetting characteristic of liquid droplets can be changed for each nozzle, but the structure of the channels becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by making the vibration plate have different thicknesses at different locations. The vibration plate is thinner at positions corresponding to nozzles requiring larger droplet volumes and thicker at positions corresponding to nozzles requiring smaller droplet volumes. This local variation in thickness allows each nozzle to have customized jetting characteristics while maintaining a uniform channel structure throughout the device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different voltage configurations are used for each nozzle to change jetting characteristics, then the jetting characteristic of liquid droplets can be changed for each nozzle, but the circuit configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the electrical control system (multiple power sources and complex circuitry) with a mechanical structure (vibration plate with varying thickness). Instead of using different voltages to control droplet volume at each nozzle, the mechanical thickness variation of the vibration plate directly determines the droplet volume, eliminating the need for complex circuit configurations while maintaining the ability to adjust jetting characteristics for each nozzle.
3Productivity
If larger pressure chambers are used for black ink nozzles to jet larger droplets, then high-speed monochrome printing is enabled, but the channel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains uniform pressure chamber structures for all nozzles but introduces local quality through the vibration plate thickness variation. The thinner vibration plate sections at black ink nozzle positions allow these nozzles to jet larger droplets at higher speeds for monochrome printing, while the thicker sections at color ink nozzle positions enable smaller droplets for high-quality color printing. This approach achieves differentiated printing performance without complicating the pressure chamber or channel structures.
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
Enables efficient adjustment of droplet volumes between nozzles, facilitating high-speed monochrome printing and high-image-quality color printing using the same channel structure, reducing circuit complexity and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuator which includes a vibration plate arranged on one surface of the channel unit while covering the first and second pressure chambers, a piezoelectric layer arranged to face the first and second pressure chambers on a surface of the vibration plate disposed on a side not facing the channel unit
Data Source
AI summary
A channel unit has a first individual ink channel including a first nozzle and a first pressure chamber, and a second individual ink channel including a second nozzle and a second pressure chamber. The channels have a mutually identical channel structure. A piezoelectric actuator, in which a vibration plate, a piezoelectric layer, and a pair of electrodes are stacked, is arranged on the upper surface of the channel unit. A portion of the piezoelectric layer facing the first pressure chamber is thinner than a portion facing the second pressure chamber. Accordingly, a liquid droplet-jetting apparatus is provided, in which the channel structure is simple, and the volumes of liquid droplets jetted from the first nozzle and the second nozzle respectively are different from each other.