Printhead Gas Removal via Permeable Membrane Vent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas bubbles in the liquid flow paths of printers can degrade the quality of printed output by preventing proper delivery and ejection of ink or other liquids, leading to undesirable image quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid delivery system that includes a pump, filter, and vent with a gas-permeable membrane, where the pump pressurizes the liquid and pushes it through a filter to remove gas bubbles, and the vent uses a vacuum to pull the bubbles through a membrane, ensuring they are removed without allowing liquid to pass, thus maintaining print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pump pressurizes liquid to push it through a filter, then liquid flow rate is improved, but gas bubbles accumulate in the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts gas bubbles from the liquid flow path by introducing a separate gas removal system. A gas permeable membrane allows gas bubbles to pass through while blocking liquid, effectively separating and removing the harmful gas phase from the liquid flow without affecting the liquid delivery function.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas permeable membrane acts as an intermediary element between the liquid flow path and the gas removal system. It selectively permits gas molecules to pass through while maintaining a barrier to liquid, enabling gas removal without disrupting liquid flow or requiring direct contact between the gas removal mechanism and the liquid stream.
2Manufacturing precision
If a filter is used to remove gas bubbles, then print quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a gas permeable membrane, which is a porous material that allows gas molecules to pass through its structure while blocking larger liquid molecules. This porous structure provides an elegant solution for gas-liquid separation that integrates seamlessly into the existing liquid delivery system without requiring complex mechanical filtering mechanisms.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If vacuum is applied to remove gas bubbles through a membrane, then gas bubble removal is improved, but liquid leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas permeable membrane exhibits different permeability properties for different substances - it is highly permeable to gas molecules while being impermeable to liquid. This local quality difference in permeability allows the system to apply vacuum for gas removal at specific locations without compromising liquid containment, as the membrane's selective properties prevent liquid leakage regardless of the pressure differential applied.
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 system effectively removes gas bubbles, ensuring consistent and high-quality ink delivery to printheads, preventing bubble-induced degradation of printed output and maintaining intended image quality.
Implementation Method 1
A pump pressurizes the liquid and pushes the liquid, and gas bubbles in the liquid, through a filter
Implementation Method 2
a vent having a gas-permeable membrane... pull the gas bubbles in the liquid through the membrane
Implementation Method 3
the vent uses a vacuum to pull the bubbles through a membrane
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3
AI summary
In one example, a liquid delivery and gas removal system for a printhead. The system includes a pump to provide a liquid at a positive pressure. The system also includes a filter fluidically coupled to the pump to receive the pressurized liquid at an upstream side, at a first pressure push the liquid through the filter to a downstream side, and at a higher second pressure push gas bubbles in the liquid through the filter to the downstream side. The system further includes a vent having a gas-permeable membrane. A wet side of the membrane is fluidically coupled to the downstream side and to a printhead. A vacuum is applied to a dry side of the membrane.