Zero Adjustment Print Head Charging Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional continuous ink jet printers require adjustable mounts for the charging electrode, which leads to time-consuming alignment processes and potential misalignments, consuming resources and increasing the risk of operational errors.

Innovation Solution

A print head with a monolithic mounting deck that secures the nozzle, charging electrode, and gutter in a fixed positional relationship, eliminating adjustable components to prevent misalignments and ensure proper alignment during initial assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an adjustable mount is used for the charging electrode, then alignment can be corrected during operation and handling, but the alignment process becomes time-consuming and adjustments may introduce misalignments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidalignment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting deck is designed with pre-configured alignment features that automatically position the charging electrode, deflection electrodes, and gutter in correct alignment during initial assembly. This preliminary alignment action eliminates the need for subsequent adjustment operations, resolving the contradiction between alignment accuracy and alignment time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting deck structure itself provides the alignment function through its geometric features and tolerance design, eliminating the need for separate adjustment mechanisms. The system aligns components through its own structural properties rather than requiring external adjustment actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If an adjustable mount is used for the charging electrode, then misalignments can be accommodated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment toleranceVSAvoidmounting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is extracted and removed from the system. Instead of providing adjustable mounts, the design accepts fixed positioning with built-in alignment tolerances in the mounting deck, eliminating the complex adjustment hardware while maintaining alignment reliability through design rather than mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The design transitions from an adjustable parameter system to a fixed parameter system with controlled tolerances. The mounting deck incorporates dimensional tolerances and geometric features that accommodate alignment variations without requiring mechanical adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable components are used, then alignment can be modified during operation, but the risk of operational errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment adjustabilityVSAvoidoperational error rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making components adjustable to prevent errors, the invention inverts the approach by making components fixed and designing the system to be error-proof through its structure. The mounting deck's geometric constraints and tolerance design prevent misalignment errors from occurring in the first place, rather than allowing adjustments to correct them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 solution reduces the time and resources needed for printing operations by maintaining component alignment indefinitely, preventing misalignments and ensuring consistent print quality.

Implementation Method 1

a continuous stream of ink emanating from a nozzle is broken up into individual regular drops by, for example, an oscillating piezoelectric element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The drops are directed past a charging electrode where they are selectively and separately given a predetermined charging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic charging: Electrostatic Induction

Implementation Method 3

passing through a transverse electric field provided across a pair of deflection electrodes. Each charged drop is deflected by the field by an amount that is dependent on its charging magnitude

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP3152061B1Continuous ink jet print head with zero adjustment embedded charging electrode

Publication Date: 2020.10.07 VIDEOJET TECH INC

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AI summary

A continuous ink jet print head, including: a droplet generator (32, 32', 32") for generating ink droplets (64); a charging electrode (22, 22', 22") having a passageway (74, 74', 74") through which the ink droplets travel to receive a charge; a deflection electrode (60, 60', 60") for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a gutter (50, 50', 50", 50'") having a gutter entrance (52, 52', 52", 52'"); wherein the passageway is aligned with the gutter entrance through which uncharged droplets enter; and a mounting deck (10, 10', 10") configured to secure the gutter entrance into a fixed, nonadjustable gutter entrance position (56, 56', 56", 56'") and to secure the charging electrode into a fixed, nonadjustable charging electrode position (24, 24', 24") relative to the gutter entrance.