Asymmetric Concave-Convex Adapter for Liquid Storage Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid storage packs for inkjet recording apparatuses require additional parts and increased size to correctly orient the liquid storage pack within a case, which complicates uniform liquid supply and increases product size.
Innovation Solution
A liquid storage unit with a rectangular parallelepiped case and a detachable adapter featuring concave portions on the adapter's outer side surfaces and complementary convex portions on the case's inner side surfaces, ensuring correct vertical orientation without additional parts, using a positioning mechanism that prevents opposite vertical mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handle is added to the liquid storage pack to enable easy recognition of the vertical direction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and product size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed with asymmetric concave portions on its outer side surfaces that complementarily fit with convex portions on the case's inner side surfaces. This asymmetric configuration enables the liquid storage pack to be easily recognized and mounted in the correct vertical direction without requiring additional parts such as handles, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
2Ease of operation
If a handle is added to the liquid storage pack to enable easy recognition of the vertical direction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the product size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates asymmetric concave portions on its outer side surfaces that engage with complementary convex portions on the case. This asymmetric design provides clear directional guidance for mounting without requiring additional external components like handles, thereby achieving ease of operation while maintaining a compact product size without volume increase
3Manufacturing precision
If the liquid storage pack is designed with asymmetric liquid intake ports to ensure uniform liquid supply, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in correct orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter features asymmetric concave portions on its outer side surfaces that complementarily fit with convex portions on the case's inner side surfaces. This asymmetric mechanical interface provides intuitive directional guidance during mounting, ensuring that the liquid storage pack is easily oriented and mounted in the correct vertical direction while maintaining the asymmetric liquid intake port configuration for uniform liquid supply
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the liquid storage pack and the case. It provides the asymmetric concave-convex engagement mechanism that mediates the orientation issue, allowing the liquid storage pack with asymmetric liquid intake ports to be easily mounted in the correct direction without modifying the liquid storage pack itself
Data Source
AI summary
The liquid storage unit includes a rectangular parallelepiped case having an open upper surface and a liquid storage pack including a rectangular parallelepiped adapter. The liquid storage pack is detachably housed in the case, the case includes a convex portion that protrudes from the inner side surface along a first direction perpendicular to a bottom surface, the adapter includes a concave portion that is formed on the outer side surface along a first direction and open to the lower surface, and the concave portion can engage with the convex portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the inner side surface, and is formed asymmetrically with respect to a surface that passes through the center of the adapter in the first direction and is perpendicular to the first direction.