Waste Liquid Absorber Density Gradient Inkjet Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste liquid absorbers in liquid ejecting devices face a trade-off between permeability and retention performance, where high permeability leads to poor retention and vice versa due to uniform density of absorbing materials.
Innovation Solution
A waste liquid absorber with distinct density gradients, featuring a high-density portion for retention and a low-density portion for absorption, utilizing cellulose fibers and thermoplastic resin with flame retardants, allowing for enhanced permeability and retention capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the waste liquid absorbing material has high permeability, then the absorption of waste liquid is improved, but the retention performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The waste liquid absorbing material is designed with non-uniform density distribution, where the density varies in the thickness direction. Specifically, the density is lower at the waste liquid contact surface to enhance absorption, and higher in the inner portions to improve retention. This local variation in density allows different regions of the same material to perform different functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of density within the absorbing material. By controlling the density to vary in the thickness direction (with standard deviation of density being 0.02 g/cm³ or more), the material achieves optimal balance between permeability and retention. The average density is controlled within 0.08-0.16 g/cm³, with specific density gradients created to optimize both absorption and retention characteristics.
2Reliability
If the waste liquid absorbing material has high retention performance, then the retention of absorbed waste liquid is improved, but the permeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The waste liquid absorbing material is designed with non-uniform density distribution, where the density varies in the thickness direction. Specifically, the density is lower at the waste liquid contact surface to enhance absorption, and higher in the inner portions to improve retention. This local variation in density allows different regions of the same material to perform different functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of density within the absorbing material. By controlling the density to vary in the thickness direction (with standard deviation of density being 0.02 g/cm³ or more), the material achieves optimal balance between permeability and retention. The average density is controlled within 0.08-0.16 g/cm³, with specific density gradients created to optimize both absorption and retention characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If the density of the waste liquid absorbing material is uniform, then the manufacturing is simplified, but both permeability and retention performance cannot be optimized simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of density within the absorbing material. By controlling the density to vary in the thickness direction (with standard deviation of density being 0.02 g/cm³ or more), the material achieves optimal balance between permeability and retention. The average density is controlled within 0.08-0.16 g/cm³, with specific density gradients created to optimize both absorption and retention characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste liquid absorbing material is formed as a composite structure with varying composition in the thickness direction. The material includes cellulose fibers, thermoplastic resin, and inorganic filler in specific ratios that create the desired density gradient. This composite structure allows simultaneous optimization of multiple properties that would be difficult to achieve with a homogeneous material.
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
The absorber effectively absorbs and retains waste liquid efficiently, preventing leakage even when the device is arranged obliquely or sideways, while minimizing the size of the waste ink tank and liquid droplet ejecting device.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid absorbing material for absorbing the liquid
Implementation Method 2
a waste liquid absorbing material for absorbing the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A waste liquid absorber is adapted to absorb waste liquid discharged from an outlet configured to eject ink in an accommodated state when the waste liquid absorber is accommodated in an accommodation portion. The waste liquid absorber includes a first portion and a second portion having different densities in a thickness direction of a single piece of the waste liquid absorber, and the first portion has higher density than the second portion. Each of the first portion and the second portion includes a fiber and solid flame retardant powders. The fiber of the first portion is formed of material that is the same as material of which the fiber of the second portion is formed.