Polygonal Channel Member Adhesive Trapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejection heads, excessive adhesive can block channels formed between bonded substrates, preventing liquid from reaching the ejection port, which is a common issue in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A channel member with a polygonal shape, featuring a first portion and a second portion with a larger aperture area, where the adhesive is positioned on the step surface and vertices, preventing it from blocking the channel by allowing it to creep up the corners and be trapped, thus preventing channel blockage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple substrates are bonded together with adhesive, then the structural integrity and sealing of the liquid ejection head is improved, but the adhesive may flow into the channel and block it
Solution Approach 1:
The channel cross-section is segmented into multiple levels with different aperture areas. The first level (near the bonding interface) has a smaller aperture area, while the second level (away from the bonding interface) has a larger aperture area. This segmentation allows the adhesive to be contained in the smaller first level without blocking the larger second level, thus maintaining channel patency while enabling strong bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel is designed with a stepped cross-sectional structure that introduces a vertical dimension to the aperture area variation. By creating levels at different heights (first level closer to the bonding interface, second level farther away), the design controls adhesive flow in the vertical dimension while maintaining horizontal flow capability in the larger aperture region.
2Quantity of substance
If the channel aperture is made larger to prevent blockage, then liquid flow is improved, but adhesive may more easily enter and block the channel
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the channel have different aperture areas tailored to their specific functions. The first level (near bonding interface) has a smaller aperture area to resist adhesive intrusion, while the second level (away from bonding interface) has a larger aperture area to ensure adequate liquid flow. This local differentiation of quality allows the channel to simultaneously prevent adhesive blockage and maintain liquid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The stepped structure is designed in advance to anticipate adhesive flow during bonding. The smaller first level aperture acts as a preliminary barrier that captures and contains adhesive before it can reach the larger second level aperture, preventing blockage before it occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
A channel member includes a first substrate in which a channel is formed from a first surface, and a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other with an adhesive between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the channel has a polygonal shape when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first surface, wherein the channel includes a first portion on the first surface side and a second portion that communicates with the first portion, wherein an aperture area of the second portion is larger than an aperture area of the first portion when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the first surface, and wherein the adhesive is present on a step surface between the first portion and the second portion and at vertices of the polygonal shape.