Zig-Zag Droplet Ejection Nozzle Humidity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing droplet ejection apparatuses face challenges in effectively maintaining nozzle humidity and preventing drying, leading to reduced printing quality and efficiency, particularly due to uneven distribution of humidified air and inefficient release mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A droplet ejection apparatus with ejection units disposed in a zig-zag pattern and a release unit that releases humidified air from strategically positioned ports between these units, ensuring optimal humidity levels and minimizing nozzle drying by leveraging the transport direction and air flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If humidified air is released from a single central position, then the release mechanism is simple, but the humidity distribution becomes uneven and nozzles dry out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease mechanism structureVSAvoidnozzle humidity maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single central humidified air release mechanism is segmented into multiple release ports distributed across the ejection head. Each release port is positioned near corresponding ejection units, creating localized humidity zones that ensure even distribution and prevent nozzle drying while maintaining reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by positioning humidified air release ports specifically near ejection units that are prone to drying. This localized approach ensures that humidity is delivered exactly where needed, maintaining optimal printing conditions for each nozzle group without requiring complex centralized systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If ejection units are arranged in a straight line, then the structure is simple, but the coverage area is limited and humidity distribution is uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection unit arrangementVSAvoideffective coverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection units are arranged in a zig-zag pattern rather than a straight line, transitioning from a one-dimensional linear arrangement to a two-dimensional distributed configuration. This dimensional change increases the effective coverage area and improves humidity distribution across the printing surface while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The zig-zag arrangement introduces asymmetry in the positioning of ejection units relative to the release ports. This asymmetric distribution optimizes the coverage area by ensuring that humidified air reaches all ejection units effectively, preventing dead zones and improving overall printing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Device complexity

If release ports are positioned far from ejection units, then the release mechanism is simple, but humidity delivery is insufficient and nozzles dry out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease port positioningVSAvoidnozzle humidity control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Humidified air is released from ports positioned adjacent to ejection units before the ejection units operate. This preliminary action ensures that the nozzles are pre-humidified and maintained at optimal moisture levels, preventing drying and ensuring consistent printing precision throughout the operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The release ports act as intermediaries that deliver humidified air directly to the ejection units. By positioning these ports close to the nozzles, the invention creates an efficient transfer pathway for moisture, ensuring precise humidity control without requiring complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration enhances the distribution of humidified air, effectively maintaining nozzle humidity and improving printing quality by suppressing nozzle drying, thereby increasing the overall efficiency and reliability of the droplet ejection process.

Implementation Method 1

a release unit which releases humidified air from a release port which is open in the recording medium side between ejection units in the intersection direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHumidified air release:

Data Source

PatentUS9840101B2Droplet ejection apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.12.12 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

Provided is a droplet ejection apparatus including: an ejecting mechanism in which plural ejection units which eject droplets from a nozzle to a transported recording medium are disposed in a zig-zag form in an intersection direction that intersects a transport direction of the recording medium; and a release unit which releases humidified air from a release port which is open in the recording medium side between ejection units in the intersection direction.