Stationary Ink Circulation Unit for Compact Printhead Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses with integral printheads and ink circulation paths require significant driving force to move the printhead during maintenance, leading to increased size and cost due to the weight of the integrated ink circulation system.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus design featuring a circulation unit that overlaps with the printhead unit, allowing the circulation unit to remain stationary while the printhead moves, reducing the need for large driving forces and minimizing apparatus width by separating the liquid circulation paths from the printhead movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the printhead is made integral with the ink circulation path, then the circulation path is simplified and apparatus width is reduced, but the weight of the printhead increases requiring larger actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The ink circulation system is segmented into a stationary circulation unit and a movable printhead unit. The circulation unit containing the circulation path is fixed to the main body, while the printhead is separated and made movable, allowing independent optimization of each component's weight and position.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation unit is positioned to overlap with the projection plane of the printhead in the vertical direction (Z-axis), rather than being arranged side-by-side in the horizontal direction. This vertical stacking reduces the apparatus width while keeping the circulation unit stationary.
2Device complexity
If the printhead is made integral with the ink circulation path, then the circulation path is simplified, but the driving force required to move the printhead increases leading to larger actuators and higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a stationary circulation unit and a movable printhead unit. By separating the heavy circulation components from the moving printhead, the mass that needs to be accelerated during movement is reduced, thereby reducing the required driving force and allowing for smaller, more cost-effective actuators.
3Productivity
If multiple printheads are used, then printing capability is improved, but the number of ink circulation paths increases complicating the flow channels and increasing apparatus width
Solution Approach 1:
The stationary circulation unit serves as a shared resource for multiple printheads. All printheads can draw ink from and return ink to the same circulation unit, allowing the circulation system to support multiple printing units without requiring separate circulation paths for each, thereby maintaining simplicity while enabling multi-color or high-volume printing.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus has a circulation unit including a first liquid moving unit configured to supply liquid to a printhead and a second liquid moving unit configured to discharge the liquid circulated inside the printhead and not ejected from an ejection port to an outside of the printhead; a head unit including the printhead and a holding unit configured to hold the printhead; and a head moving unit configured to move the head unit in a first direction. The circulation unit overlaps with a projection plane of the head unit and is not moved by the head moving unit.