Print Head Substrate Overlap for Compact Ink Jet Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printing apparatuses face challenges in miniaturization when trying to increase printing speed, as elongating print heads to reduce scan numbers results in increased size, particularly when both black and color ink substrates are used, leading to inefficiencies in space usage and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a print head with a first substrate for black ink and a second substrate for color ink, where the second substrate's ink supply port is longer and has fewer ports than the first, with ejection port arrays overlapping to allow for a more compact configuration, enabling the drive circuit to be positioned efficiently to minimize overall length and maintain printing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the print head is elongated by connecting a plurality of substrates with ejection port arrays formed therein together in a direction in which the ejection port arrays are formed, then the print length that can be printed during a single scan is increased, but the size of the print head is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the drive circuit from a linear arrangement along the length of the substrate to an overlapping region between two substrates. By placing the drive circuit in the overlap area where substrates are stacked or positioned closely, the circuit utilizes space in the width direction rather than extending the length in the scanning direction, thus increasing print length capacity without proportionally increasing overall print head length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement where the drive circuit is positioned at different locations relative to ejection port arrays on different substrates. Specifically, the drive circuit is arranged to be closer to ejection ports on one substrate while being positioned differently relative to ejection ports on another substrate, optimizing signal transmission efficiency while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both black and color ink substrates are used in the print head, then color printing capability is achieved, but the print head size increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines black and color ink substrates in an overlapping configuration where both substrates share a common drive circuit region. The substrates are arranged to overlap partially in the scanning direction, allowing the drive circuit to serve both substrates simultaneously from a shared position, thereby reducing the total length required compared to separate linear arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive circuit is designed with multi-functional capability to drive print elements on both black and color substrates. By positioning the drive circuit to interface with ejection ports on multiple substrates, a single circuit structure performs the function of driving multiple ink types, reducing the need for separate dedicated circuits for each substrate type.
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
This configuration miniaturizes the print head and ink jet printing apparatus, saving space, reducing manufacturing costs, and maintaining efficient printing performance by optimizing the arrangement of ejection port arrays and drive circuits.
Implementation Method 1
each of the print elements being driven to apply kinetic energy to the ink in the corresponding ink channel to eject the ink through the corresponding ejection port
Data Source
AI summary
A print head and an ink jet printing apparatus are provided which can have smaller sizes if a print head is used which includes a substrate with a plurality of ejection port arrays and a substrate with ejection port arrays longer than the plurality of ejection port arrays. A drive circuit formed in a substrate is formed outside ejection port arrays in the substrate along the extending direction of the ejection port arrays. The drive circuit formed on an overlapping side of the substrate where the ejection port arrays overlap is formed to be longer, along the extending direction of the ejection port arrays, than a drive circuit formed on a side of the substrate which is opposite to the overlapping side. Furthermore, the ejection port arrays of the substrates overlap in the extending direction of ink supply ports, and the substrates are mounted on a support.