Cap Atmosphere Communication Wall Positioning for Nozzle Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as printers, face challenges in maintaining the nozzle area due to ink or liquid deposition in the cap, leading to evaporation and clogging issues, particularly in the communication path between the cap and the nozzle, which complicates cleaning and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A cap design featuring a lip portion, inner bottom wall, and atmosphere communication wall forming a recessed portion, where the atmosphere communication wall is positioned closer to the opening and includes a communication port to facilitate easy cleaning and access, reducing the likelihood of liquid entry and promoting effective capping and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the communication path is sealed to prevent liquid entry, then liquid deposition is reduced, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid depositionVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The communication port is extracted from the deep interior of the cap structure and repositioned on the atmosphere communication wall that is accessible from the opening. This allows the liquid-tight sealing function to be maintained while the communication port itself becomes accessible for cleaning, resolving the contradiction between preventing liquid entry and enabling cleaning access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the cap structure is simplified, then manufacturing ease is improved, but liquid ejection control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecap structure simplicityVSAvoidliquid ejection control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is segmented into distinct functional walls: the atmosphere communication wall for liquid-tight sealing and communication, the inner bottom wall for structural support, and the lip portion for nozzle contact. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cap are given different properties: the atmosphere communication wall provides liquid-tight sealing, the lip portion provides precise nozzle contact, and the recessed portion provides structural definition. This local differentiation of properties enables reliable liquid ejection control without requiring complex overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the communication port is positioned deeper in the cap, then liquid entry is reduced, but cleaning difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid entryVSAvoidcleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the communication port deep inside the cap to prevent liquid entry, the port is inverted outward onto the atmosphere communication wall that is visible from and accessible through the opening. This inversion maintains liquid-tight sealing while dramatically improving cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10807370B2Cap and liquid ejecting apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A cap includes a lip portion, and an inner bottom wall and an atmosphere communication wall that, when an opening with the lip portion as an edge is covered by a member, form a recessed portion that forms a space with the member, the atmosphere communication wall being provided at a position between the opening and the inner bottom wall in a depth direction of the recessed portion, the atmosphere communication wall having a communication port of an atmosphere communication portion that opens the space to the atmosphere, the communication port being formed in the atmosphere communication wall toward the opening.