Separator Design for Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Mist Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses with a fan blowing air toward a circuit board, mist from the ejecting unit can cause contamination and potential short circuits, as existing configurations do not effectively prevent mist from reaching the circuit board.
Innovation Solution
A separator is introduced between the ejecting unit and the fan to divert the mist's path, preventing it from reaching the fan and thus the circuit board, utilizing convection generation units to further suppress mist diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a fan is provided to cool the circuit board, then the cooling effect is improved, but mist is blown against the circuit board causing contamination and potential short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
A separator is introduced as an intermediary component between the ejecting unit and the fan. The separator has a first portion that blocks mist from reaching the fan, and a second portion that allows air to pass through to the circuit board. This mediator structure enables the fan to cool the circuit board while preventing mist contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator is divided into functionally distinct portions: a first portion facing the ejecting unit that blocks mist, and a second portion that permits air flow to the circuit board. This segmentation allows different regions of the same component to perform different functions, resolving the contradiction between cooling and contamination prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separator is introduced to block mist, then mist contamination is prevented, but airflow to the circuit board may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is segmented into a first portion for blocking mist and a second portion for allowing air flow. This segmentation ensures that mist blocking does not completely obstruct the airflow path to the circuit board, maintaining cooling efficiency while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the separator have different properties: the first portion has blocking characteristics for mist, while the second portion has permeable characteristics for air flow. This local differentiation of properties allows the separator to simultaneously prevent mist contamination and maintain adequate airflow for cooling.
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 configuration effectively prevents mist from being blown against the circuit board, reducing the risk of contamination and short circuits while maintaining efficient ink ejection and airflow management.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing convection generation units to further suppress mist diffusion
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage which can move in a reciprocating direction, in which the carriage is provided with an ejecting unit which ejects liquid, a circuit board which inputs a signal to the ejecting unit, and a fan which can blow air toward the circuit board, and includes a separator which separates a path through which mist which occurs along with ejecting of liquid from the ejecting unit reaches the fan.