Collar for Fluid Barrier in Print Liquid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pliable reservoirs used in printing devices are difficult to handle and couple to ejection devices due to their lack of rigid structure, making alignment and secure connection challenging, which affects the functionality and ease of replacing liquid supplies.
Innovation Solution
A bag-in-box print liquid supply system with a structurally rigid interface is introduced, featuring a collar coupled to the spout of the containment reservoir to prevent rotation, flexing, or translation, ensuring a fluid-tight path and secure alignment between the reservoir and ejection device components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pliable reservoir is used to hold print liquid, then the reservoir is easy to manufacture and cost-effective, but the reservoir becomes difficult to handle and couple to ejection devices due to lack of rigid structure
Solution Approach 1:
The pliable reservoir is nested within a rigid outer container, combining the manufacturing advantages of pliable materials with the handling benefits of rigid structure. The rigid container provides structural support for easy handling while the nested pliable reservoir maintains cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
A rigid interface structure acts as an intermediary between the pliable reservoir and the ejection device. This intermediate rigid component provides the necessary structural support for coupling and alignment while the pliable reservoir remains connected through a fluid-tight interface.
2Ease of manufacture
If a pliable reservoir is used to hold print liquid, then the reservoir is simple in structure and low cost, but the reservoir becomes difficult to align and securely connect to ejection device components
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid outer container provides precise alignment features and structural geometry that enable accurate positioning and alignment with ejection device components, while the nested pliable reservoir maintains the low-cost advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid interface structure serves as a mediator that provides precise alignment and secure connection capabilities, bridging the gap between the simple pliable reservoir and the precision requirements of the ejection device.
3Ease of operation
If a rigid structure is added to the pliable reservoir, then the handling and alignment become easier, but the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the reservoir are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid structure is added as an outer container that nests the pliable reservoir, providing handling advantages while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and cost-effective through efficient use of materials and manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid barrier may include a collar coupled to a first end of a fluidic channel of a fluidic interface wherein the collar comprises a lip to prevent separation of the fluidic channel from a pliable fluidic container. A printing fluid supply may include an at least partially collapsible fluid bag; and a substantially rigid fluidic interface having a fluidic channel fluidically coupled to the fluid bag and a collar coupled to the fluidic channel forming a fluid barrier between the fluid bag and the fluidic interface.