Carriage-Mounted Ink Cartridge Segmentation for White Ink Sedimentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing and reducing ink wastage, particularly with high sedimentation inks like white ink, due to their rapid sedimentation rates and higher densities, which can lead to clogging and require frequent stirring, complicating the printing process and increasing equipment weight.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus design includes a detachable carriage-mounted cartridge for white ink and a main tank for color inks, allowing for direct supply to the print heads without long tubes, enabling efficient stirring and reducing waste by minimizing the length of supply channels, and incorporating a replacement system to manage ink consumption and sedimentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If white ink is stored in a large-capacity container attached to the apparatus body, then the printing duration is extended, but the ink sedimentation causes clogging and requires frequent stirring
Solution Approach 1:
The ink storage system is segmented into multiple small-capacity cartridges (first storage containers) mounted on the movable carriage, rather than using a single large container. This segmentation allows each cartridge to be independently managed and replaced, preventing sedimentation issues while maintaining extended printing capability through multiple cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink storage system transitions from a static large container to dynamic small cartridges that can be moved and replaced. The cartridges are mounted on a movable carriage that can transport them between the printing position and a replacement position, enabling dynamic ink management without sedimentation problems.
2Quantity of substance
If long supply tubes are used to transport ink from the apparatus body to the print head, then the ink storage capacity is increased, but the ink wastage due to sedimentation and clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink storage function is extracted from the stationary apparatus body and placed on the movable carriage with the print head. This extraction allows the ink to be stored close to the discharge point, eliminating long supply tubes and reducing ink wastage while maintaining adequate storage capacity through multiple cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink storage system transitions from a vertical hierarchy (large container at apparatus body, small cartridges at carriage) to a horizontal arrangement with multiple small cartridges distributed along the carriage. This dimensional change reduces the need for long vertical supply tubes while maintaining total ink capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If the carriage is made heavier to carry larger ink containers, then the ink storage capacity is increased, but the printing accuracy and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The total ink storage capacity is segmented into multiple small cartridges rather than one large container. This segmentation distributes the weight across multiple light components on the carriage, maintaining printing accuracy while achieving the required total ink capacity through strategic placement of multiple cartridges.
4Reliability
If frequent stirring is implemented to prevent ink sedimentation, then the ink flow stability is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural motion of the movable carriage during printing operations to dynamically mix and prevent sedimentation in the ink cartridges, eliminating the need for separate stirring mechanisms. The carriage movement itself serves as the mixing action.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes an apparatus body, a liquid discharge device configured to discharge a liquid, a carriage in the apparatus body, the carriage configured to movably mount the liquid discharge device, a first storage container detachably attached to the carriage, the first storage container configured to store a first liquid, and a second storage container detachably attached to the apparatus body, the second storage container configured to store a second liquid different from the first liquid.