Ink Cartridge Bypass Path for Air Hole Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink cartridges for inkjet printers require a special ink injecting hole for filling, which increases manufacturing costs and complexity, and can lead to ink leakage due to user errors in sealing the hole, and may result in erroneous ink detection if air remains in the system.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design with a first bypass path between liquid leading passages before and after the pressure regulating means allows for smooth ink injection without a special injecting hole, reducing manufacturing steps and eliminating the need for sealing, while a second bypass path can increase injection pressure and prevent air from reaching the ink detecting means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a special ink injecting hole is provided for filling the ink chamber, then the ink chamber can be filled with ink, but the manufacturing steps increase and cost increases due to the need to seal the hole with a seal film
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ink injection function from a dedicated special hole and integrates it into the existing air open hole. By removing the need for a separate injection hole and its associated seal film, the manufacturing process is simplified while maintaining the ability to fill the ink chamber. The air open hole serves dual purposes: allowing air ingress during ink consumption and serving as the injection point during filling.
Solution Approach 2:
The air open hole is given multiple functions: it serves as both the air intake passage during normal operation and the ink injection hole during manufacturing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated holes for different purposes, reducing the number of components and manufacturing steps required.
2Reliability
If a special ink injecting hole is provided for filling the ink chamber, then the ink chamber can be filled with ink, but the cost increases due to the seal film required to prevent leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the seal film component entirely by eliminating the special injection hole. Since the air open hole is already part of the cartridge's normal structure and remains open during operation, no additional sealing component is needed, thereby reducing material costs and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the air open hole serve dual purposes as both air intake and injection point, the design eliminates the need for expensive seal films and special injection mechanisms, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining functional reliability.
3Device complexity
If the air open hole is used for ink injection, then the structure is simplified, but ink cannot flow quickly through the hole due to its small passage diameter and complicated structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic pressure control by reducing the pressure inside the ink chamber during the injection process. This pressure differential (higher external pressure, lower internal pressure) overcomes the flow resistance caused by the small passage diameter and complex internal structure of the air open hole, enabling fast ink injection through the existing structure without modification.
4Reliability
If pressure regulating means is provided in the ink leading path, then ink pressure is regulated, but the ink supply hole cannot be used for filling due to the nonreturn valve function
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to make the pressure regulating means reversible or modifying it to allow backward flow, the patent inverts the approach by using a different hole (the air open hole) for ink injection. This bypasses the nonreturn valve limitation entirely, allowing the pressure regulating means to maintain its one-way function while the filling operation uses an alternative pathway that is not constrained by the valve's directional flow requirement.
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 design enables efficient and reliable filling of the ink chamber without a special injecting hole, reducing costs and preventing ink leakage, while ensuring accurate ink detection by preventing air from entering the ink detecting system.
Implementation Method 1
pressure regulating means, provided in a portion of the liquid leading path, for regulating a pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the liquid receiving portion through the liquid supply hole
Implementation Method 2
reducing a pressure in an inner part of the liquid chamber to be a predetermined pressure through a suction from the air open hole; filling an predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid chamber through the liquid supply hole
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container includes: a container body attachable to a container attachment portion of an apparatus side; a liquid chamber, provided in the container body, for accommodating a liquid therein; a liquid supply hole connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus side; a liquid leading path for leading the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to the liquid supply hole; an air open hole for introducing outside air into the liquid chamber as the liquid in the liquid chamber is consumed; pressure regulating means, provided in a portion of the liquid leading path, for regulating a pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the liquid receiving portion through the liquid supply hole and hindering a reverse flow of the liquid from the liquid supply hole to the liquid chamber; a first bypass path for causing first and second liquid leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided respectively before and after the pressure regulating means, to communicate with each other; and a first bypass blocking portion capable of blocking the bypass path.