Asymmetric Ink Filter Capsule for Leakage-Free Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink-jet recording apparatuses require manual adjustment of filter orientation during replacement, which can lead to ink contamination or abnormal printing if not done correctly, and increasing production costs with automatic adjustment mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A filter design with a central and peripheral connecting port, where the upper capsule member has a dome-shaped top surface and a pipe section extending to the lower capsule member, allowing ink to flow from the peripheral port through a filter medium and out the central port, eliminating the need for orientation adjustment and reducing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the filter is designed with two connecting ports facing opposite directions, then the filter structure is simple, but ink drops remaining in the old filter can contaminate the surrounding area during filter exchange operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter structure simplicityVSAvoidink contamination during filter exchange

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter capsule is designed with asymmetric connecting port orientations where one connecting port faces upward and the other faces downward. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when the filter is removed, ink drops naturally drain downward away from the operator and surrounding area, eliminating contamination risks while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having both connecting ports face the same direction (which would require careful orientation during installation), the design inverts the approach by having ports face opposite directions. This ensures that gravity naturally assists in draining ink from the filter capsule in the correct direction during removal, eliminating the need for manual orientation adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the filter orientation is made adjustable, then ink contamination risk is reduced, but operator skill requirement increases and operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink contamination riskVSAvoidfilter exchange operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter capsule is designed to be self-aligning during installation and self-draining during removal. The asymmetric port configuration automatically orients the filter correctly upon insertion and ensures ink drains in the proper direction during removal, eliminating the need for operator intervention or skill in orientation adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The filter capsule is pre-designed with the correct asymmetric orientation during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the filter is installed, it automatically assumes the correct orientation without requiring operator adjustment, and during removal, ink naturally drains in the correct direction due to the pre-established geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic orientation adjustment mechanism is added, then filter exchange operation is simplified, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter exchange operation simplicityVSAvoidautomatic adjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the orientation adjustment function from the overall system by incorporating it directly into the filter capsule design itself. The asymmetric port configuration inherently provides the correct orientation without requiring external automatic adjustment mechanisms, thereby eliminating additional complexity and cost while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 filter design eliminates the need for operator-adjusted orientations, reducing the risk of ink contamination and abnormal printing by ensuring complete ink removal and air displacement during filter exchange, thus simplifying operations and maintaining print quality.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid supplied from the peripheral connecting port via the pipe section is filtered through the filter medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9004662B2Filter and ink-jet recording apparatus having the same

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 HITACHI IND EQUIP SYST CO LTD

AI summary

A filter, the alignment of which does not need to be adjusted, and an ink-jet recording apparatus having such a filter are provided, the ink-jet recording apparatus capable of avoiding leakage of residual liquids in filter exchange operation. The filter of the present invention includes an upper capsule member, a lower capsule member, and a filter medium. The upper capsule member has a central connecting port and a peripheral connecting port, and also has a pipe section that extends, within the capsule, from the peripheral connecting port to the vicinity of the bottom surface (the deepest section) of the lower capsule member. A liquid supplied from the peripheral connecting port via the pipe section is filtered through the filter medium, and the filtered liquid is output from the central connecting port.