Liquid Storage Container Terminal Grid for Contact Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, contact failures between container-side terminals and apparatus-side terminals occur due to uneven elastic forces and vibrations, leading to positional shifts and wobbling of the circuit substrate, which compromises electrical connectivity.
Innovation Solution
The design involves a liquid storage container with a container-side terminal group where the first and second contact sections are positioned differently relative to the elastic force direction, allowing for varying elastic forces and directions across multiple contact positions, stabilizing the circuit substrate by distributing forces uniformly and reducing wobbling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If container-side terminals are disposed on an end surface of the container-side circuit substrate to save space, then the size of the container-side circuit substrate is reduced, but contact failure with apparatus-side terminals occurs due to uneven elastic forces and positional shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-line terminal arrangement to a two-dimensional grid pattern on the end surface. Multiple lines of terminals are arranged in both the vertical and horizontal directions, utilizing the end surface area more effectively. This dimensional expansion allows for space savings while maintaining adequate contact reliability through distributed terminal positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal group is segmented into multiple lines arranged in different directions. Instead of concentrating terminals in one line, they are divided into several lines spaced apart on the end surface. This segmentation distributes the elastic forces from apparatus-side terminals across multiple contact points, preventing the uneven force concentration that causes contact failure.
2Volume of moving object
If intervals between terminals are narrowed to save space, then the container-side circuit substrate size is reduced, but short circuiting between adjacent terminals occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges terminals in a two-dimensional grid pattern with multiple lines in different directions. This spatial distribution increases the effective distance between adjacent terminals by utilizing the end surface area, thereby preventing short circuiting while still achieving compact substrate size through efficient space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal lines are arranged asymmetrically in different directions on the end surface. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the spacing between terminals to prevent short circuiting while maintaining compact overall dimensions. The non-uniform distribution pattern helps avoid direct alignment that could lead to short circuiting.
3Volume of moving object
If container-side terminals come in contact with apparatus-side terminals using an edge portion of the end surface, then space is saved, but the circuit substrate experiences positional shifts and wobbling due to uneven elastic forces
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal contact arrangement is segmented into multiple lines in different directions. This segmentation distributes the elastic forces from apparatus-side terminals across multiple contact points on the end surface. The distributed force application prevents the uneven force concentration at a single edge portion, thereby eliminating positional shifts and wobbling of the circuit substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a more uniform force distribution by arranging terminals in multiple lines. This arrangement aims to achieve equipotentiality in terms of force distribution across the contact points, reducing the potential differences in elastic force application that cause positional instability and wobbling of the circuit substrate.
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 effectively suppresses contact failures and positional shifts, ensuring stable electrical connectivity between the container-side and apparatus-side terminals by managing elastic forces and vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
a cartridge mounting section and a circuit substrate (container-side circuit substrate) which is provided on a side surface of the cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting section
Data Source
AI summary
With an ink cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting section of a printer, an apparatus-side terminal elastically comes in contact with a container-side terminal of a container-side circuit substrate. The container-side terminal includes a curved edge portion at a corner portion in which a groove of a substrate surface comes in contact with a substrate end surface. Depths of the grooves in container-side terminals are different and positions of contact sections with the apparatus-side terminals are different in the edge portions. As a result, positions in directions in which elastic forces act from the apparatus-side terminals are different for each contact section and the elastic forces having values and directions which are not uniform act on the container-side circuit substrate at different positions. Thus, it is possible to suppress positional shift of the container-side circuit substrate and to suppress contact failure between the container-side terminal and the apparatus-side terminal.