Printhead Shipping Fluid Density Viscosity Layering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing systems, including printhead devices, suffer from defects such as air ingestion and pigment settling due to vibrations during shipping and storage, leading to unwanted intermixing of shipping fluid and ink, which results in printhead device malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The use of a shipping fluid with a density and viscosity greater than the corresponding ink density and viscosity, allowing it to float on top of the ink and reducing intermixing, while also being compatible with the printhead components to minimize clogging and defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shipping fluid is used to fill the printhead device during storage and shipping, then the printhead device is protected from damage and contamination, but the shipping fluid may intermix with the ink and cause defects such as air ingestion and pigment settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the shipping fluid, specifically setting its density greater than ink density and viscosity greater than ink viscosity. This parameter modification allows the shipping fluid to settle at the bottom of the printhead device while ink remains above it, preventing intermixing and eliminating harmful effects such as air ingestion and pigment settling during shipping and storage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shipping fluid density is greater than the ink density, then the shipping fluid settles below the ink and reduces intermixing, but this requires specific formulation of the shipping fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the shipping fluid shall have a density greater than the ink density and a viscosity greater than the ink viscosity. These parameter changes enable stable fluid layering where the heavier shipping fluid settles at the bottom and the lighter ink remains above it, preventing intermixing during shipping and storage while maintaining compatibility with printhead components.
3Reliability
If the shipping fluid viscosity is greater than the ink viscosity, then the shipping fluid remains stable and prevents pigment settling, but this limits the formulation options for the shipping fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes that the shipping fluid must have a viscosity greater than the ink viscosity. This parameter constraint ensures that the shipping fluid remains stable and prevents pigment settling during shipping, while still allowing for various formulation options as long as the viscosity requirement is met. The higher viscosity also helps maintain the fluid's position and prevents unwanted movement.
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 solution effectively reduces defects caused by air ingestion and pigment settling, ensuring the printhead device functions properly upon ink supply by maintaining the shipping fluid separate from the ink and preventing clogging, thus enhancing the reliability of printhead devices during storage and shipping.
Implementation Method 1
The shipping fluid includes a shipping fluid density and a shipping fluid viscosity greater than a corresponding ink density and ink viscosity
Implementation Method 2
The shipping fluid includes a shipping fluid density and a shipping fluid viscosity greater than a corresponding ink density and ink viscosity
Data Source
AI summary
A printhead device includes firing chambers, nozzles, and shipping fluid. The shipping fluid includes a shipping fluid density and a shipping fluid viscosity greater than a corresponding ink density and ink viscosity of an ink that will be ejected from the firing chambers and through the nozzles.