Ink Cartridge Case Geometry for Spout Ink Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink cartridges with flexible ink bags face issues where remaining ink is not effectively collected towards the spout when the ink amount is low, leading to ink division and leakage within the case.
Innovation Solution
The ink cartridge design features a dual-layer flexible ink bag with a spout having a hollow portion and a case with specific corner and surface configurations that allow the ink to be collected towards the spout when tilted, preventing leakage and ensuring efficient ink usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flexible ink bag is used to store ink, then the ink bag can adapt to varying ink levels and maintain structural simplicity, but when the remaining ink amount becomes small, the inner surfaces of the ink bag come into contact with each other causing ink division and preventing complete ink collection at the spout
Solution Approach 1:
The ink bag is designed with dynamic flexibility allowing it to change shape and collapse as ink is consumed. The flexible sheets can deform to maintain contact with the case inner wall, ensuring ink flows toward the spout even at low levels. This dynamic adaptation prevents ink division and enables complete ink utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink bag employs flexible sheet material that can conform to the case interior geometry. These thin flexible walls allow the ink bag to collapse uniformly as ink depletes, preventing the formation of isolated ink pockets and ensuring continuous ink flow to the spout throughout the ink consumption process.
2Volume of moving object
If the ink bag is made flexible to accommodate ink volume changes, then the ink bag can efficiently use space, but ink may leak to the outside of the case when the remaining ink amount is small due to bag collapse
Solution Approach 1:
A guiding structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the flexible ink bag and the case. This guide directs the collapsed ink bag walls to follow a controlled path, ensuring ink flows toward the spout rather than leaking outward. The guide acts as a mediator that manages the ink bag's deformation behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a spatial dimension by positioning the spout and guiding structure in three-dimensional space within the case. The ink bag collapse is directed along a specific spatial trajectory, utilizing vertical and horizontal dimensions to guide ink flow toward the spout opening, preventing leakage through spatial constraint.
3Loss of substance
If corner portions are added to the case end portion to guide ink flow, then remaining ink can be effectively collected towards the spout, but the case structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The case end portion is segmented into distinct functional elements: corner portions and surface portions. Each segment serves a specific purpose in guiding ink flow. The corner portions direct ink from the sides toward the center, while surface portions guide ink from the top, collectively channeling all remaining ink toward the spout without requiring a completely redesigned case structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner portions are positioned asymmetrically at the case end, with specific orientations tailored to guide ink flow from different directions toward the spout. This asymmetric configuration optimizes ink collection efficiency by addressing the specific geometry of ink bag collapse patterns, rather than using a symmetric design that would be less effective.
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 effectively collects remaining ink towards the spout, reducing waste and preventing ink leakage from the cartridge, even when the ink amount is low, by utilizing the gravitational force and case geometry to guide ink towards the spout.
Implementation Method 1
by utilizing the gravitational force and case geometry to guide ink towards the spout
Data Source
AI summary
An ink cartridge includes an ink bag that is configured to store ink inside, a spout that is provided on the ink bag and includes a hollow portion that leads from a first opening to a second opening, and a case that houses the ink bag, an end portion of the case on a side of the second opening including at least a first corner portion, a second corner portion, and a first surface portion, a width in a first direction being smaller than a width in a second direction in the case, an axial line of the spout being, in the second direction, located closer to one end portion of the case on a side having the first corner portion, and the leading end portion of the spout being located inside of the case with respect to the line connecting the first corner portion and the second corner portion.