Self-Purge Printing Head with Capillary Gap and Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing systems require shifting the printing head for purging, leading to reduced printing speed, increased costs, and low cleaning efficiency due to dripping of purged liquid, along with sediment and fume accumulation on the nozzle plate, which affects printing quality.
Innovation Solution
An integrated self-purge mechanism with a shielding mask and capillary gap system that captures and removes purged liquid without dripping, combined with an auxiliary suction system for fume management, allowing purging and cleaning within the printing area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional purging techniques are used where the printing head is shifted to a maintenance area, then purged liquid can drip without affecting printing, but printing speed is reduced and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the purging function with the printing area by integrating a receiving chamber directly beneath the nozzle plate within the printing head assembly. This allows purging to be performed in-situ without shifting to a separate maintenance area, eliminating downtime and maintaining printing speed while ensuring purged liquid is contained and does not affect printing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a receiving chamber as an intermediary component between the nozzle plate and the external environment. This chamber captures and contains purged liquid, preventing it from dripping onto the printing medium or surrounding areas, thus enabling effective purging within the printing area without compromising printing reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If vacuum wiping is used to clean the nozzle plate without contact, then the nozzle plate smoothness is preserved, but cleaning efficiency is low due to suction from all sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized vacuum environment only at the specific region beneath the nozzle plate where purged liquid accumulates in the receiving chamber. The vacuum source is positioned to provide targeted suction through openings in the receiving chamber, rather than uniform suction from all sides, thereby concentrating cleaning power where it is most needed and improving cleaning efficiency while still preserving nozzle plate smoothness through non-contact operation
3Reliability
If the printing head is shifted to a maintenance area for purging, then liquid dripping is prevented from affecting printing, but the process time increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing a receiving chamber that is pre-positioned and integrated within the printing head assembly before purging is needed. This chamber is ready to immediately capture and contain purged liquid as soon as purging begins, eliminating the need to shift to a maintenance area and allowing purging to be performed quickly in-situ without compromising printing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by designing the receiving chamber as an integrated component of the printing head assembly that automatically contains and manages purged liquid during the purging process. The system performs its own maintenance function without requiring external intervention or relocation to a separate maintenance area, reducing both time loss and operational complexity
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 approach enhances printing speed, reliability, and quality by preventing liquid dripping and sediment accumulation, while maintaining nozzle plate wetness to prevent ink jet deflection, thus improving overall printing efficiency and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the printing liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzle
Implementation Method 2
An integrated self-purge mechanism with a shielding mask and capillary gap system that captures and removes purged liquid without dripping, combined with an auxiliary suction system for fume management
Data Source
AI summary
A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.