Flexible Liquid Container with Optical Level Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, particularly those with flexible containers, face challenges in measuring the remaining liquid amount due to the absence of a liquid-gas interface, making optical measurement methods inapplicable, and thus fail to notify users of replacement times effectively, leading to downtime and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a container divided into two chambers, where one chamber contains the liquid and the other contains a fluid filler, utilizing a measurement unit and controller to determine the liquid amount through weight or pressure changes, allowing for accurate monitoring of the remaining liquid and timely notification for replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible container is used to store liquid, then the container can be compact and adaptable, but it becomes impossible to optically measure the liquid level position due to the absence of a liquid-gas interface
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible film is introduced as an intermediary element between the liquid and the container wall. The film transmits the liquid level position information to the outside world through optical measurement, enabling non-contact detection without requiring a liquid-gas interface. The film's displacement correlates with the liquid level, allowing optical sensors to measure the liquid position indirectly.
2Device complexity
If no liquid level measurement is implemented, then the apparatus structure remains simple, but users cannot be notified of replacement times, leading to downtime and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
An optical measurement system provides continuous feedback on the liquid level position in the flexible container. When the liquid level reaches a predetermined threshold indicating low liquid quantity, the system generates a replacement notification signal. This feedback mechanism enables timely liquid replacement without apparatus downtime, maintaining high productivity while adding only minimal measurement complexity.
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
Enables precise measurement of the remaining liquid amount, reducing downtime and enhancing productivity by providing timely alerts for liquid replacement, while preventing contamination and foreign matter intrusion.
Implementation Method 1
optically measure displacement of a position of a liquid level that is an interface between gas and liquid in the liquid tank based on change in light income on a light receiving unit
Implementation Method 2
generating buoyancy by filling a floating bag with a filler whose density is smaller than that of a liquid filled in a container, thereby urging a flexible member in a direction to increase a volume of an ink chamber so as to apply a negative pressure to an ink
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a container divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by a dividing member, the first chamber including a discharge outlet that discharges a liquid and configured to contain the liquid, the second chamber configured to contain a fluid; a tank configured to store the fluid; a connecting portion that provides fluid communication between the tank and the second chamber; a measurement unit configured to measure an amount of the fluid supplied from the tank to the second chamber; and a controller configured to obtain an amount of the liquid contained in the first chamber based on a measurement result from the measurement unit.