Flexible Ink Pack Housing for Irregular Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with ink drying and clogging in recording heads, leading to potential ink ejection failures, and existing ink containers do not effectively manage ink consumption and deformation, which can cause irregularities and premature replacement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an ink container with a flexible ink pack and a housing that includes a fitting and engaging mechanism to securely hold the ink pack, allowing it to lengthen as ink is consumed, preventing irregular deformation and maximizing ink usage before replacement, while the ink supply port and grooved portion ensure stable ink flow and secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ink pack is made from a flexible film to allow deformation during ink consumption, then the ink pack can accommodate ink level changes, but the deformation may become irregular and cause premature replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The ink pack is designed with a flexible film structure that allows dynamic deformation as ink is consumed. The flexible film can elongate and contract smoothly, transforming the potential harmful deformation into a useful adaptive feature that maintains reliable ink supply throughout the entire ink capacity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the housing includes a fitting portion and engaging portion to securely hold the ink pack, then the ink pack positioning is stable, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting portion and engaging portion are integrated into the housing structure as unified components rather than separate elements. This merging of functions into a single structural design achieves stable ink pack positioning while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent fastening mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ink pack is held at a predetermined position in the housing, then the ink flow is stable, but the ink pack cannot accommodate lengthening due to ink consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a flexible film enclosure that allows the ink pack to dynamically change its dimensions as ink is consumed. The flexible film maintains the ink pack's predetermined position for stable ink flow while simultaneously accommodating the lengthening caused by ink consumption through controlled elastic deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink container includes an ink pack and a housing. The ink pack includes an ink containing section made from a flexible film and containing an ink therein, an ink supply port in communication with the ink containing section, and an engaging counterpart portion. The housing houses the ink pack. The housing includes a fitting portion that fits to the ink supply port of the ink pack and an engaging portion that engages with the engaging counterpart portion of the ink pack, and holds the ink pack in an ink filled state at a predetermined position in the housing through the fitting portion and the engaging portion. The engaging counterpart portion is slidable relative to the engaging portion according to lengthening of the ink pack accompanying consumption of the ink.