Elastic Plug Pinch Mechanism for Liquid Storage Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid storage containers for ejection apparatuses face issues with liquid adhering to plug members due to rocking during movement, leading to scattering when the plug member is removed, resulting in liquid being dispersed beyond the intended capture area.
Innovation Solution
A liquid storage container design featuring a plug member with a pinch portion that includes a first and second portion, opposite to each other, and a hollow portion between them, made of an elastic body, which reduces the frictional force and back action when removing the plug from the supply port, thereby minimizing liquid scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plug member is made of elastic body and inserted into the supply port for sealing, then the sealing property is improved, but the frictional force and back action increase when removing the plug member
Solution Approach 1:
The plug member is divided into functionally distinct segments: a plug portion for sealing the supply port, a cover portion for protecting the opening, and a hollow portion for reducing friction. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while working together as a unified component.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the plug member have different structural characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The plug portion is designed for sealing contact, the cover portion provides protection, and the hollow portion reduces friction. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and ease of removal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the plug member is removed quickly to prevent liquid scattering, then the liquid scattering is reduced, but the back action and impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow portion in the plug member acts as a cushioning structure that reduces the impact force when the plug is removed. This beforehand cushioning design allows for quicker removal without excessive back action, thereby preventing liquid scattering while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body material and hollow portion structure change the mechanical parameters of the plug member, reducing its effective mass and friction. This allows the plug to be removed faster with less force, resolving the contradiction between removal speed and impact force.
3Ease of operation
If the plug member is designed with a hollow portion to reduce friction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow portion is merged with the cover portion and plug portion as an integrated feature rather than a separate component. This merging approach reduces friction to improve ease of operation while avoiding the addition of separate complex mechanisms, thus balancing operational ease with structural simplicity.
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
The design effectively suppresses liquid scattering during refilling by reducing the contact area and pressure between the plug and the supply port, ensuring the liquid adhering to the plug member is contained within the storage chamber, maintaining the sealing property and preventing unwanted dispersion.
Implementation Method 1
The plug portion and the cover portion are made of an elastic body
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid storage container includes: a storage chamber; a supply port capable of supplying the liquid into the storage chamber; a hollow protruding portion protruding from the supply port; and a plug member attachably and detachably attached to the supply port. The plug member includes: a plug portion for sealing the supply port; a cover portion formed integrally with the plug portion; a pinch portion including a first portion and a second portion provided on the cover portion and opposite to each other; and a hollow portion extending from the cover portion through the plug portion. The plug portion and the cover portion are made of an elastic body, and the hollow portion has an opening on the cover portion side. A width of the opening is narrowed and a side face of the plug portion is deformed toward the hollow portion by pinching the first and second portions.