Liquid Discharging Head with Silicon Channels for Uniform Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid jetting heads face variations in channel resistance and discharge properties due to fluctuations in recovery channel heights formed in the nozzle plate, leading to inconsistent liquid ejection from nozzles.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging head design featuring descenders and connecting channels formed with high precision, utilizing a channel substrate made of silicon, where descenders penetrate orthogonally and second throttles are inclined to minimize channel resistance and ensure uniform pressure transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If recovery channels are formed in the nozzle plate by etching, then the device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to height fluctuations among channels
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid discharge system is divided into multiple independent modules, each containing a nozzle, pressure chamber, descender, and connecting channel. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured with consistent precision and then assembled, reducing the impact of manufacturing variations on overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
A channel substrate is introduced as an intermediary component between the nozzle plate and the recovery channel system. The channel substrate provides a stable, precisely-formed connecting channel that mediates the connection, ensuring uniform channel resistance and height regardless of variations in the nozzle plate etching process.
2Ease of manufacture
If channel resistance varies among recovery channels, then ease of manufacture is improved, but discharge consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting channels in the channel substrate are designed with specific local geometric characteristics (cross-sectional area, length, orientation) that optimize fluid flow properties. This local quality control ensures uniform channel resistance across all channels, improving discharge consistency while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized design.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel substrate enables precise control of channel resistance parameters by adjusting the geometric parameters of the connecting channels during manufacturing. This allows optimization of channel resistance uniformity to improve discharge consistency while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If descenders are formed with high precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the channel substrate: it provides structural support, forms the connecting channels, and precisely positions the descenders. By combining these functions into a single component manufactured with high precision, the overall device complexity is reduced compared to using multiple separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharging head includes: a first common channel, a second common channel, and individual channels aligned in a first direction. Each of the individual channels has: a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a descender formed in a channel substrate which is formed of silicon and which is arranged between a nozzle plate and a pressure chamber plate in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a connecting channel which is formed in the channel substrate. The second common channel is formed in the channel substrate. The descender penetrates the channel substrate in the second direction, and has an inner wall surface parallel to the second direction and to a third direction orthogonal to both of the first direction and the second direction. The connecting channel extends in a fourth direction which is orthogonal to the second direction and which is inclined with respect to the third direction.