Printing-liquid Cartridge with Release Member for Compact Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image recording apparatuses with tube-supply systems are constrained in size due to the arrangement of locking mechanisms in the cartridge mounting portion, which limits the compactness of the device.
Innovation Solution
A print liquid cartridge with a print liquid chamber, a print liquid supply portion, an engaging portion, and a release member that allows for fluid outflow and prevents reverse movement, combined with a cartridge mounting portion that includes an engaging member to securely hold the cartridge in place, enabling efficient ink supply and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is arranged in the cartridge mounting portion to retain the ink cartridge, then the ink cartridge can be securely retained, but the recording apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is extracted from the cartridge mounting portion and relocated to the cartridge body itself. The engagement protrusion on the cartridge body and the corresponding engagement groove on the mounting portion form a simplified locking structure that eliminates the need for additional locking components in the mounting portion, thereby reducing the overall apparatus size while maintaining secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the mounting portion actively lock the cartridge through a complex locking mechanism, the cartridge itself provides the locking feature through its engagement protrusion that fits into the mounting portion's engagement groove. This inversion simplifies the mounting portion structure and reduces apparatus size.
2Ease of operation
If the cartridge is designed to be easily inserted and removed, then the ease of operation improves, but the security of ink supply may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement and release functions are segmented into distinct structural features: the engagement protrusion and engagement groove provide secure locking, while the release member provides a dedicated interface for easy release. This segmentation allows the cartridge to be securely retained during operation while enabling simple user intervention for removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge design allows users to easily release it by simply pressing the release member, which automatically disengages the engagement protrusion from the groove. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex tools or procedures while maintaining secure retention during normal operation.
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
This configuration allows for a more compact recording apparatus by ensuring secure ink supply while allowing for easy insertion and removal of the ink cartridge, reducing the overall size of the device without compromising ink flow or storage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
The print liquid supply portion allows the print liquid to flow out of the print liquid chamber in a fluid outflow direction
Data Source
AI summary
A print liquid cartridge comprising a print liquid chamber, print liquid supply portion, a stopper, and a release member. The print liquid supply portion establishes a communication between an interior of the print liquid chamber and an exterior of the print liquid chamber. The stopper prevents the printing-liquid cartridge from moving in a direction opposite to the liquid communication direction. The release member releases the stopper, such that the printing-liquid cartridge is permitted to move in a direction opposite to the fluid outflow direction. The stopper is aligned with the release member in a height direction orthogonal to the liquid communication direction and a width direction.