Cartridge Restriction Portion Tilt Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cartridges face difficulties in smooth attachment due to their elongated shape, which can lead to positional shifts and interference with misinsertion prevention mechanisms, affecting attachability and slidability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a restriction portion that abuts against the guide rail to restrict tilt and ensure proper alignment with the misinsertion prevention portion, allowing for adequate gap setting and improved slidability, while preventing erroneous attachment and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the width of the guide rail is made the same as the width of the cartridge to suppress positional shift, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the cartridge slides less smoothly and insertion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is segmented into multiple functional portions: a restriction portion for guiding insertion, a misinsertion prevention portion for error prevention, and a liquid supply port for fluid delivery. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with others
Solution Approach 2:
The restriction portion acts as an intermediary element between the cartridge body and the guide rail. It mediates the interaction by providing a dedicated contact point that ensures proper positioning while maintaining smooth sliding through appropriate gap formation with the guide rail
2Ease of operation
If a gap is secured between the cartridge and guide rail to ensure smooth sliding, then insertion smoothness is improved, but positional shift occurs due to tilt of the elongated cartridge
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction portion is designed to preliminarily establish the correct positional relationship between the cartridge and holder during insertion. By providing a predetermined contact geometry, it pre-prevents tilt and positional shift before the cartridge is fully inserted, ensuring both smooth sliding and accurate positioning
3Quantity of substance
If the cartridge is made elongated to contain large amount of ink, then ink capacity is improved, but attachability deteriorates due to interference with misinsertion prevention key
Solution Approach 1:
The misinsertion prevention portion is positioned in a specific spatial relationship with the restriction portion, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the elongated cartridge. This dimensional arrangement ensures that the misinsertion prevention key can function effectively without interfering with the guide rail interaction, even in elongated cartridge configurations
Data Source
AI summary
Accuracy in determination of the attaching direction of an elongated cartridge is improved. A cartridge 4A according to this embodiment to be attached to a printer includes an ink supply port 414 that supplies ink to the printer, a misinsertion prevention upper face projection portion 140 that engages with misinsertion prevention portions 671 of a misinsertion prevention plate 160 in a cartridge attachment portion 6, and restriction front upper face projection portions 430 that abut against a first guide rail 650 and a first guide rail 651 and restrict a tilt of the cartridge in an intersecting direction that intersects the attaching direction at the time of attachment. These restriction front upper face projection portions 430 are arranged between a leading end side in the attaching direction CS and the misinsertion prevention upper face projection portion 140.