Ink Bottle Holder Guide and Resisting Part for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image recording apparatuses face issues with ink leakage due to unstable connections between the ink tank and ink supply unit, leading to a need for improved airtightness and secure ink bottle handling.
Innovation Solution
A bottle holder system with a guide surface, resisting part, and ink receiving part for removably holding an ink bottle, featuring a valve that opens and closes under control unit management, ensuring secure connection and controlled ink flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an annular lip portion is provided all over the internal circumference surface of the ink replenish port to increase airtightness, then the airtightness and connecting force are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the airtightness function from a complex annular lip structure and implements it through a simple O-ring seal member. The O-ring is a separate, removable component that provides sealing without requiring complex integrated structures, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-ring acts as an intermediary sealing element between the ink replenish port and the ink supply unit. This mediator provides the necessary airtightness without requiring direct complex structural integration between the main components, simplifying the overall device design.
2Reliability
If the connecting force is increased to prevent ink leakage, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into distinct functional elements: a guide structure for alignment, a resilient member for controlled engagement, and an O-ring for sealing. This segmentation allows the connection to be made in discrete steps, providing sufficient holding force while enabling straightforward removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member provides dynamic, elastic engagement that automatically adjusts to maintain connection stability. The spring-like property allows the connection to be secure during operation but easily released when force is applied for replacement, balancing reliability with ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If a guide structure is added to align the ink bottle during fitting, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure serves multiple functions: it aligns the ink bottle during insertion, supports the bottle weight, and provides a user interface for removal. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the patent achieves high alignment precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle holder of an image recording apparatus, which holds removably an ink bottle including an ink outlet, has an ink outlet connecting part for connecting the ink outlet, a guide having a guide surface that contacts the ink bottle to guide the ink bottle along a predetermined axis when the ink bottle is fit, a resisting part that is provided on the bottle guide surface and contacts the ink bottle to serve as a resistor to resist the movement of the ink bottle when the ink bottle is removed along the guide axis, and an ink receiving part to receive the ink dripped from the ink outlet. The ink receiving part is located relatively to the resisting part so as to position below the ink outlet when the ink bottle contacts the resistor upon the removal.