Liquid Ejection Head Addressing for Ink Circulation and Data Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection devices require separate driving data for each ejection element and pump element, leading to an increase in data volume as the number of elements increases.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejection head integrates a second energy generating element in the individual flow passage to circulate ink, reducing the need for separate driving data by minimizing the number of preliminary ejection operations and maintaining ejection stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate driving data is provided for each ejection element and pump element, then each element can be controlled independently, but the amount of data increases as the number of elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of ejection elements and pump elements by assigning them the same address in the driving circuit. This allows both types of elements to be controlled using a unified addressing scheme, thereby reducing the total amount of driving data required while maintaining independent control capability through the on-off-on driving circuit that can selectively activate different elements based on the same address signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving circuit is designed with universal addressing capability where a single address can control both ejection elements and pump elements. The on-off-on driving circuit serves multiple functions by selectively enabling different element types based on the address signal, making the control system more efficient and reducing data requirements.
2Productivity
If the number of ejection elements and pump elements is increased, then the ejection capacity and circulation capability are enhanced, but the amount of driving data increases accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the control addresses for ejection and pump elements, the system can support a larger total number of elements without proportionally increasing the driving data requirement. The unified addressing scheme allows the system to scale capacity while maintaining manageable data volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The on-off-on driving circuit provides dynamic control capability, allowing the system to activate different combinations of ejection and pump elements based on real-time needs. This dynamic selection enables high productivity by activating only the necessary elements for each operation, reducing the effective data requirement even though the total number of elements is increased.
3Reliability
If preliminary ejection operations are performed frequently, then ink concentration near ejection ports is reduced, but throughput is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow passage enables continuous ink circulation between the ejection port and the ink supply, providing ongoing fresh ink supply without requiring frequent preliminary ejection operations. This continuous action maintains ejection stability while minimizing interruptions to the printing process, thereby preserving throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation flow passage acts as an intermediary mechanism that supplies fresh ink to the ejection port continuously. Instead of relying on frequent preliminary ejection operations to clear concentrated ink, the circulation system provides a steady stream of fresh ink, reducing the frequency of disruptive preliminary operations while maintaining ejection reliability.
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 reduces data requirements and improves ejection stability by minimizing ink concentration near the ejection ports, enhancing throughput and yield.
Implementation Method 1
a first energy generating element that generates energy to eject liquid from the ejection port
Implementation Method 2
a second energy generating element that generates energy to circulate liquid in the individual flow passage
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A liquid ejection head includes a flow passage forming portion including an ejection port through which liquid is ejected, a pressure chamber communicating with the ejection port, and an individual flow passage communicating with the pressure chamber; a first energy generating element provided at a position corresponding to the pressure chamber of the flow passage forming portion, the first energy generating element configured to generate energy for ejecting the liquid from the ejection port; a second energy generating element provided at a position corresponding to the individual flow passage of the flow passage forming portion, the second energy generating element configured to generate energy for causing the liquid to flow through the individual flow passage; and a selection driving circuit (200) configured to determine whether to drive the second energy generating element depending on whether to drive the first energy generating element.