Ejection Cap Holding Structure to Prevent Liquid Spillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a risk of liquid spillage from the cap in a liquid ejection apparatus when the cap is tilted during replacement due to improper handling.
Innovation Solution
The cap is designed with a grabbing portion for easy detachment and a contact portion that hooks onto a holding portion, ensuring the cap is held in an upright position, reducing the risk of spillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cap is made replaceable and detachable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of liquid spillage increases due to tilting during replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion acts as an intermediary element between the cap and the operator. During cap replacement, the holding portion temporarily holds the cap in an upright position, preventing tilting and liquid spillage while the operator performs the replacement operation. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by enabling easy replacement without compromising spill prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap is held in an upright position during replacement, then liquid spillage is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to additional holding structure
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is integrated into the existing cap structure and serves multiple functions: it holds the cap during replacement, maintains upright posture to prevent spillage, and interfaces with the operator's hand. By making this element multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate complex mechanisms while still preventing liquid spillage during cap replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes an ejection portion including a nozzle surface at which one or more nozzles open, and configured to eject, from the nozzle, liquid in a direction different from a vertical direction, a cap configured to form a space in communication with the nozzle by making contact with the ejection portion, an mounting portion to which the cap is detachably mounted, and a holding portion configured to hold the cap detached from the mounting portion. The cap includes a grabbing portion configured to be grabbed by an operator, and a contact portion configured to be hooked onto the holding portion.