Substrate Holder Assembly for Precise Inkjet Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in achieving precise placement of print material on substrates due to micro-scale deviations in timing, quantity, and rate of print material ejection, as well as imprecision in substrate positioning, leading to printing faults and off-target deposition of print material.
Innovation Solution
A substrate holder assembly with a base member, contact member, holder carriage, linear extenders, and flex members is integrated into the inkjet printer, allowing for precise control of substrate position and height through a combination of vacuum systems, gas cushions, and sensors to ensure accurate placement of print material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If substrate distance from print ejectors is not precisely controlled, then the printing system is simpler to operate, but the print material arrives at the substrate off target causing printing faults
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate holder assembly incorporates movable components including a holder carriage that can translate along the substrate support and contact members with manipulators that can adjust in the third direction. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to adapt substrate position and height to achieve precise print material placement while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs sensors to detect substrate position and height, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustments to substrate positioning and holder carriage movement, ensuring that print material arrives at the correct location on the substrate despite variations in substrate placement
2Manufacturing precision
If micro-scale deviations occur in timing or rate of print material ejection, then the dispensing process is faster and more flexible, but the print material does not arrive at the target location accurately
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors detect the actual position of the substrate and holder carriage, providing feedback to the control system which adjusts dispensing timing and rate accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures accurate print material placement even at high printing speeds where micro-scale timing deviations could occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-positions the substrate and holder carriage to predetermined locations before print material ejection. By establishing known reference positions in advance, the system can synchronize dispensing timing more accurately, ensuring print material arrives at the target location even during high-speed operation
3Manufacturing precision
If imprecision in substrate positioning occurs, then the substrate handling is easier, but the print material arrives off target on the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors detect the actual position and orientation of the substrate relative to the holder carriage and contact members. The control system uses this feedback to make automatic adjustments to substrate positioning, compensating for placement imprecision while maintaining ease of substrate loading
Solution Approach 2:
The holder assembly with its carriage and contact members serves multiple functions: it positions the substrate, adjusts substrate height, and compensates for positioning errors. This multi-functional design achieves high positioning precision without requiring extremely precise manual substrate placement
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a substrate holder assembly that includes a base member having a long axis in a first direction and a short axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a contact member coupled to the base member, the contact member having a long axis in the first direction and a short axis in the second direction; a holder carriage coupled to the base member; a linear extender coupled between the base member and the contact member and extending in a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction from the base member toward the contact member; and a flex member coupled to the base member, extending in the second direction between the linear extender and the contact member, and having a flex direction in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.