Liquid Ejection Apparatus Supply Chamber Bypass Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejection apparatuses face issues with high-viscosity ink and air bubbles entering the ejection modules, leading to failure in ink ejection due to the damper chamber's configuration, which allows these issues to flow directly into the ejection modules.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejection apparatus is redesigned with a supply chamber that has a second opening directly communicating with the tank, bypassing the damper chamber, and includes a pump for circulating liquid to prevent high-viscosity ink and air bubbles from entering the ejection module by forming a circulation passage that returns these issues to the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the damper chamber is disposed between the tank and the supply chamber to relieve ink pressure changes, then pressure stability is improved, but high-viscosity ink and air bubbles flow into the ejection module
Solution Approach 1:
The supply chamber is divided into two independent communication paths: one through the damper chamber (first opening) and one directly from the tank (second opening). This segmentation allows the system to maintain pressure stability through the damper while providing a bypass path that prevents high-viscosity ink and air bubbles from reaching the ejection module.
Solution Approach 2:
The second opening acts as an intermediary path that mediates between the tank and the supply chamber, providing an alternative route for ink flow that bypasses the damper chamber. This intermediary path allows fresh ink to enter the supply chamber directly from the tank, preventing contaminated ink from the damper chamber from reaching the ejection module.
2Stress or pressure
If the flexible film in the damper chamber permits gas passage to relieve pressure, then pressure relief is improved, but air bubbles are generated and flow into the ejection module
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful air bubbles generated in the damper chamber are extracted from the main ink flow path by providing a separate second opening that communicates directly with the tank. This extraction prevents air bubbles from being transported to the ejection module while maintaining the pressure relief function of the flexible film.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible film's ability to permit gas passage, which initially causes air bubble generation, is converted into a benefit by creating a pressure equalization path that does not lead to the ejection module. The second opening allows the system to utilize the flexible film's gas permeability without suffering from the harmful effect of air bubbles reaching the nozzles.
3Stress or pressure
If the supply chamber is connected only via the damper chamber to maintain pressure stability, then pressure control is improved, but liquid supply speed decreases when consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two supply paths based on demand: the first opening through the damper chamber provides pressure-controlled supply under normal conditions, while the second opening provides high-speed direct supply when consumption is high. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to varying liquid consumption rates while maintaining pressure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply chamber is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating two communication paths: one optimized for pressure control (through the damper chamber) and one optimized for high-speed supply (direct from tank). This universal design allows the same supply chamber to fulfill both pressure control and high-speed supply requirements depending on operational conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The object is to prevent high-viscosity liquid and air bubbles generated in a damper chamber from flowing into the ejection module. A printer 1 includes: ejection modules 21-26; supply chambers 33 connected to the ejection modules 21-26 and to respective sub-tanks 12 each storing ink; and damper chambers 34 connected to the respective supply chambers 33. Each of the supply chambers 33 has: openings 41, 42 communicating with a corresponding one of the damper chambers 34; and an opening 43 communicating with a corresponding one of the sub-tanks 12. That is, this printer 1 is not configured such that the damper chamber 34 is disposed between the sub-tank 12 and the supply chamber 33. Accordingly, even in case where increase in viscosity of ink and/or generation of air bubbles occurs in the damper chamber 34, it is possible to make it more diffcult for the high-viscosity ink and/or the air bubbles to flow into the ejection modules 21-26 during ink ejection from the ejection modules 21-26.