Ink Bottle and Tank Flow Paths for Smooth Air-Liquid Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in ensuring that liquid does not remain inside the container and is smoothly injected into a tank, while maintaining effective air-liquid exchange between an ink bottle and an ink tank.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container system with a first flow path part connecting internal and external openings and a communication port, and a tank with a second flow path part inserted into the container, allowing for smooth ink injection and air exchange by positioning the flow paths to minimize ink retention and facilitate efficient ink transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a bottle with a nozzle implemented by two flow paths is used, then ink easily flows into the flow paths even when ink amount decreases, but both flow paths are likely to be submerged with ink when connected to the ink tank, making it difficult to perform air-liquid exchange smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the ink bottle with its nozzle structure, the ink tank with its needle structure, and distinct flow paths for ink and air. This segmentation allows independent optimization of ink delivery and air exchange functions, resolving the contradiction between ensuring ink flow and maintaining air-liquid exchange capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle structure in the ink tank acts as an intermediary component that receives both ink and air from the bottle nozzle. The needle's dual flow path design allows it to mediate between the bottle's two flow paths and the ink tank's storage chamber, enabling smooth air-liquid exchange even when ink levels change.
2Ease of operation
If a needle implemented by two flow paths is used in the ink tank, then air-liquid exchange can be performed, but when ink amount in the bottle decreases, the liquid surface becomes lower than the needle opening, making ink less likely to flow into the flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is nested within the ink tank's opening, with its flow paths integrated into the tank structure. This nested configuration allows the needle to maintain its dual flow path functionality while being positioned to receive ink and air from the bottle, ensuring continuous operation regardless of ink level changes in the bottle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-flow-path vertical arrangement to a multi-dimensional dual flow path configuration. The needle's flow paths are arranged in different spatial dimensions, allowing one path to remain open for ink flow even when the liquid surface drops, while the other path maintains air exchange capability.
3Quantity of substance
If the first flow path part connects a first opening inside the liquid container to a second opening outside, then ink can flow from the container to the tank, but the second end being downstream of the communication port may cause ink to remain in the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path configuration is inverted from the conventional design where the opening is upstream. In this invention, the communication port is positioned upstream of the second end of the flow path part, creating a flow direction that prevents ink accumulation. This inversion ensures that ink flows smoothly from the container through the flow path into the tank without remaining in the flow path, eliminating waste.
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 system ensures that ink is efficiently transferred from the liquid container to the tank, reducing ink retention and enabling smooth air-liquid exchange, even when ink levels are low, by optimizing the flow path configurations.
Implementation Method 1
the ink is injected into the ink tank by using air-liquid exchange in which the ink and the air move back and forth between the ink tank and the ink bottle
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes: a liquid container including a first storage chamber stores a recording liquid; and a tank including a second storage chamber stores the recording liquid. The liquid container is connected to the tank. The liquid container includes a first flow path part defines a first flow path connecting a first opening located inside the liquid container and a second opening located outside the first storage chamber, and a third opening communicates the first storage chamber with outside. The tank includes a second flow path part defines a second flow path connecting a fourth opening located in the second storage chamber and a fifth opening located outside the second storage chamber and is inserted into the first storage chamber through the third opening from the outside, and a sixth opening communicates the second storage chamber with the outside and is connected to the first flow path part.