Flow Path Opening/Closing Apparatus with Stepped Wall for Deposit Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow path opening/closing apparatuses in liquid ejecting devices, such as ink jet recording apparatuses, face challenges in effectively discharging undesired matters like bubbles and dust, and suffer from deposit growth due to the opening and closing operations, leading to unreliable operations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a lid member and a receptacle member with a second wall that controls the flow to the outflow opening, reducing resistance and preventing deposit growth by ensuring the lid member does not contact the second wall, and utilizing a stepped portion to separate the first and second walls, which facilitates the stirring of liquid and improves the discharge of undesired matters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lid member contacts the second wall during opening and closing operations, then the structure is simple, but deposit growth occurs leading to unreliable operations
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful contact between the lid member and second wall is eliminated by extracting the second wall from the contact zone. The second wall is positioned to control liquid flow without interfering with the lid member's opening and closing motion, thereby preventing deposit formation while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first wall acts as an intermediary element that guides the lid member's contact point away from the second wall. By mediating the interaction between the lid member and the flow control structure, the first wall ensures reliable sealing without causing deposit accumulation on the second wall.
2Productivity
If liquid flows directly from inflow opening to outflow opening in a straight line, then the flow path is short, but undesired matters accumulate in regions away from the straight line connection
Solution Approach 1:
The second wall is configured with a curved surface that guides liquid flow in an arc-shaped path rather than a straight line. This curvature ensures that liquid flows across the entire liquid reservoir portion, preventing accumulation of undesired matters in dead zones while maintaining efficient flow from the inflow to outflow opening.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the second wall is positioned to control liquid flow effectively, then discharge of undesired matters is improved, but the lid member may contact the second wall causing deposit growth
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure is segmented into two distinct parts: the first wall that contacts the lid member for sealing purposes, and the second wall that controls liquid flow without contacting the lid member. This segmentation allows each wall to perform its specific function independently, eliminating the trade-off between flow control and contact prevention.
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
This configuration enhances the capability to discharge undesired matters, reduces deposit growth, and ensures reliable long-term operation of the flow path opening and closing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The lid member closes the outflow opening by contacting the first wall due to relative movement of the lid member with respect to the receptacle member
Implementation Method 2
since the first wall and the second wall are separate by the stepped portion, the lid member does not easily contact the second wall. Even if the lid member contacts the second wall, the growth of deposit of a component of the liquid accumulated due to repeated contacts with the lid member can be inhibited
Implementation Method 3
the provision of the second wall facilitates controlling flow of a liquid to the outflow opening
Data Source
AI summary
A flow path opening/closing apparatus includes a lid member and a receptacle member fixed to the lid member. The receptacle member includes a first wall that defines an outflow opening that is open to the lid member and a second wall provided around the first wall. The lid member closes the outflow opening by contacting the first wall due to relative movement of the lid member with respect to the receptacle member. A surface that is one of surfaces of the first wall and that faces the lid member and a surface that is one of surfaces of the second wall and that faces the lid member are separate by a stepped portion.