Laser-Textured Printhead Surfaces for Nozzle Wetting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Print quality and speed of printheads are affected by factors such as drying or accumulation of print fluid around nozzle discharge orifices, which can lead to nozzle clogging and reduced droplet accuracy.
Innovation Solution
Applying a laser treatment to modify the surface texture of printhead surfaces, including discharge and internal surfaces, to create regions with altered wetting properties that reduce fluid accumulation and improve jetting accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional printhead surfaces are used without treatment, then manufacturing is simpler, but print fluid accumulates around nozzle orifices causing clogging and reduced print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies laser treatment to modify the discharge surface of the printhead before use, creating a textured surface that prevents print fluid accumulation. This preliminary surface modification eliminates the need for post-manufacturing surface treatments and ensures reliable nozzle performance from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser treatment changes the physical parameters of the discharge surface by creating micro-textures and altering surface energy characteristics. This parameter change modifies how print fluid interacts with the surface, preventing accumulation around nozzles without requiring complex additional components.
2Reliability
If the discharge surface is made hydrophilic to prevent fluid accumulation, then nozzle clogging is reduced, but internal surfaces may suffer from poor fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different locations: the discharge surface is treated to be hydrophobic (repelling print fluid) while internal channels and surfaces are treated to be hydrophilic (attracting print fluid). This local differentiation ensures that each surface performs its specific function optimally - preventing accumulation at nozzles while maintaining smooth fluid flow through internal passages.
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 laser-altered surface textures enhance printhead performance by preventing fluid buildup around nozzle orifices and improving droplet jetting accuracy and print quality.
Implementation Method 1
a laser treatment on one or more surfaces of a printhead to improve printhead performance. The laser treatment modifies the material surface (i.e., the actual substrate material, such as stainless steel) to form a desired surface texture, which is referred to herein as a laser-altered surface texture
Implementation Method 2
a laser-altered surface texture may be formed on the discharge surface of a printhead to reduce the wettability of the discharge surface... a laser-altered surface texture may be formed on one or more internal surfaces of the printhead to increase the wettability of the internal surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
Laser treatment on surfaces of a printhead. In an embodiment, a printhead comprises an assembly of structural elements each comprising a metal substrate. The structural elements form a plurality of jetting channels and a manifold fluidly coupled to the jetting channels, and the jetting channels and the manifold have internal surfaces internal to the printhead configured to contact a print fluid. The printhead further comprises a laser-altered surface texture formed directly on one or more of the internal surfaces via a laser treatment to define one or more wetting regions on the one or more of the internal surfaces.