Rolling Guide Head Module Support for Precise Liquid Jet Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid jet heads face challenges in ensuring defined position accuracy and rigidity during the movement of fluid jet modules due to the use of slip guides, which leads to difficulty in maintaining precise alignment and stability.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of rolling guides extending in the first direction for guiding the movement portion with respect to the fixing portion, along with a distributed arrangement of rolling guides and hardening treatments to enhance position accuracy and rigidity, and the use of position detection units to facilitate precise adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a slip guide is used to guide the movement portion with respect to the fixing portion, then the device complexity is reduced, but the position accuracy and rigidity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide structure complexityVSAvoidposition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the slip guide (friction-based mechanical guidance) with a rolling guide (roller-based mechanical guidance). The rolling guide includes a roller that rotates along a groove, converting sliding friction to rolling friction, thereby reducing frictional forces and improving position accuracy while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If a slip guide is used to guide the movement portion with respect to the fixing portion, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the rigidity and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide structure manufacturing easeVSAvoidmovement stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the slip guide with a rolling guide that uses a roller element. This substitution maintains manufacturing feasibility while significantly improving the stability and rigidity of the movement portion during operation, as rolling contact provides more stable and predictable motion characteristics than sliding contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the total length of the rolling guide is made shorter than the fixing portion, then the ease of operation and access is improved, but the position accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess easeVSAvoidposition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple rolling guides distributed at different positions along the movement portion rather than a single long rolling guide. This segmentation approach provides multiple contact points that collectively ensure position accuracy while allowing the individual guide segments to be shorter and more accessible for maintenance and operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Ensures defined position accuracy and rigidity in the movement of head modules, improving maintenance efficiency and alignment precision while reducing frictional forces and deformation, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the liquid jet head.

Implementation Method 1

the rolling guide extending in the first direction is applied to the guide portion that guides the movement portion with respect to the fixing portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4467343B1Head module support mechanism, liquid discharge head, and liquid discharge system
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4467343B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4467343B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4467343B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a head module support mechanism, a liquid jet head, and a liquid jet system which can ensure a defined position accuracy in movement of a head module. Provided is a head module support mechanism (36) that supports a head module of a liquid jet head including one or more head modules, the head module support mechanism including: a fixing portion (42) that is joined to a frame of the liquid jet head; a movement portion (40) that supports the head module and is supported to be movable in a first direction with respect to the fixing portion; a first direction movement portion that moves the movement portion that supports the head module in the first direction with respect to the fixing portion; and a guide portion that guides the movement portion with respect to the fixing portion and to which a rolling guide (200) extending in the first direction is applied.