Duplexer Integrated Spittoon for Waste Ink Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional printers require separate, non-integrated spittoons for shipping fluid and waste ink collection, leading to increased part counts, size, and manufacturing costs, as well as user inconvenience during paper jams due to the need to remove both the duplexer and spittoon.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a spittoon into the duplexer within the printer, allowing for a larger chamber to collect shipping fluid and waste ink, enabling the duplexer to be removed for jam clearance and maintenance, reducing the need for a separate spittoon and enhancing storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a separate spittoon is used for waste collection, then waste storage capacity is limited, but device complexity and part count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spittoon with the duplexer into a single integrated unit. The duplexer housing serves as the outer shell for the spittoon, eliminating the need for a separate spittoon component. This merging of functions allows the waste collection chamber to be formed within the existing duplexer structure, thereby increasing waste storage capacity without adding additional parts to the printer system.
2Quantity of substance
If a separate spittoon is installed, then shipping fluid collection is possible, but manufacturing costs and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated duplexer-spittoon unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a duplexer for two-sided printing, a spittoon for waste ink collection, and a shipping fluid reservoir. The housing and chamber structure are designed to fulfill all these roles simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of dedicated shipping fluid collection components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and assembly complexity.
3Ease of operation
If duplexer and spittoon are separate components, then maintenance access is difficult, but integration increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated unit is designed with a removable or accessible cover that segments the access path, allowing users to easily reach the waste collection chamber and shipping fluid reservoir without disassembling the entire duplexer assembly. This segmented access design maintains the benefits of integration while preserving ease of maintenance through strategically placed access points.
Data Source
AI summary
Printers and duplexers are described herein. An example duplexer for a printer includes a print substrate path to guide a print substrate and a chamber to collect a fluid.