Pressure Regulating Unit for High-Speed Inkjet Print Heads
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Solution Overview
Problem
In business-grade printing apparatuses, increased ink supply quantity leads to significant pressure loss in the ink supply channel, causing insufficient negative pressure within the print head, which can result in ink ejection deficiency due to the disparity between the regulated negative pressure and the actual pressure inside the print head.
Innovation Solution
A pressure regulating unit comprising a first and second pressure chamber, a communication path with a valve, and urging units, where the spring constant of the second urging unit is greater than the first, allowing for adjustment of the communication path opening degree and displacement of the pressure chamber volume to maintain suitable negative pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ink supply quantity is increased to meet high-speed printing demands, then the print speed is improved, but the pressure loss in the ink supply channel increases, causing insufficient negative pressure in the print head
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulating unit dynamically adjusts the valve opening degree based on real-time pressure feedback from the print head. The control unit modifies the valve opening to compensate for pressure losses that increase with higher ink supply quantities, thereby maintaining stable negative pressure in the print head even during high-speed printing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a feedback mechanism where the control unit monitors the pressure state in the print head and adjusts the valve opening degree accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the negative pressure in the print head is maintained within the appropriate range despite variations in ink supply quantity caused by high-speed printing demands
2Productivity
If the ink supply quantity is increased, then the ink ejection frequency is increased, but the pressure loss causes a difference between the regulated negative pressure and the actual negative pressure inside the print head
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening degree is dynamically adjusted based on the ink supply quantity and resulting pressure losses. As ink ejection frequency increases and pressure loss worsens, the control unit increases the valve opening degree to compensate, maintaining accurate negative pressure regulation despite the changing operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the valve opening degree parameter in response to varying ink supply quantities. By adjusting this parameter, the system compensates for pressure losses that occur at different ink ejection frequencies, ensuring that the regulated negative pressure matches the actual pressure conditions in the print head
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 solution effectively stabilizes the negative pressure within the print head, preventing ink ejection deficiency even at high ink ejection frequencies by adjusting the pressure chamber volume and maintaining a stable ink flow rate, ensuring high-quality printing during high-speed operations.
Implementation Method 1
at least a part of the second pressure chamber being defined by a displacement member that is displaced according to an inside pressure
Implementation Method 2
a first urging unit configured to apply an urging force to the valve, the urging force of the first urging unit acting in a direction in which the communication path is closed; and a second urging unit configured to apply an urging force to the displacement member
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure regulating unit capable of suitably regulating pressure to be applied to liquid, a liquid supplying apparatus, and a liquid ejecting apparatus are provided. An ink communication path allows an ink introducing chamber communicating with an ink inlet and a pressure chamber communicating with an ink outlet to communicate with each other. A part of the pressure chamber is formed of a flexible film. A valve including a valve body and a valve seat adjusts an opening degree of the ink communication path. An urging member applies, to the valve, a first urging force acting in a direction in which the ink communication path is closed. An urging member applies, to the film, a second urging force that is greater than the first urging force and acts in a displacement direction in which the volume of the pressure chamber is reduced.