Integrated Ink Encasement Carriage for Evaporation Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording systems face challenges with small ink cartridge capacity leading to frequent replacements and refilling, and large ink tanks are difficult to mount on carriages due to evaporation issues during ink transfer.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording apparatus with an integrated ink encasement and carriage, using a water-soluble dye and polyhydric alcohol with a normal boiling point of 270° C. or above, which reduces evaporation and allows direct transfer from the encasement to the recording head, maintaining ink stability and capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large ink tank is used to increase capacity and reduce refilling frequency, then the ink tank capacity is improved, but the ink evaporation during transfer increases due to long tube requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ink tank with the carriage structure, integrating the ink supply system directly into the recording head assembly. This eliminates the need for long external tubes connecting a separate large tank to the recording head, thereby reducing ink evaporation while maintaining large ink capacity through the integrated design
2Quantity of substance
If a large ink tank is mounted separately from the carriage, then the ink tank capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional tube pathways and mounting structures
Solution Approach 1:
The ink tank is integrated directly into the carriage structure, combining two previously separate components (ink tank and carriage) into a unified assembly. This eliminates the need for external mounting structures and tube pathways, reducing device complexity while maintaining large ink capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage structure serves dual functions: it holds and positions the recording head while also containing and supplying the large-capacity ink tank. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate ink tank mounting structures, reducing overall device 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
The solution enhances ink retention, reduces evaporation, and maintains stable ejection, eliminating the need for long tubes and frequent refills while maintaining a compact system.
Implementation Method 1
the ink composition contains a polyhydric alcohol with a normal boiling point of 270° C. or above... reducing evaporation
Implementation Method 2
the ink composition may pass through the filter against force of gravity when flowing from the ink encasement to the recording head
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink composition, an ink encasement in which the ink composition is encased, a recording head that ejects the ink composition, and a carriage configured to move the recording head back and forth. The carriage carries the ink encasement, with the ink encasement integrated with the carriage. The ink encasement has an ink fill port that opens and shuts as a port through which the ink composition is loaded. The ink composition contains a water-soluble dye and a polyhydric alcohol with a normal boiling point of 270° C. or above, with the percentage of the polyhydric alcohol being 26.0% by mass or less of the total amount of the ink composition.