Ink Cartridge Electrical Contact Positioning for Connection Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ink cartridge interface design, as described in International Publication No. 2012-054050, has a positional deviation issue where the electrical contact is distant from the locking portion, leading to potential misalignment and unsatisfactory connections between the ink cartridge and the printer.
Innovation Solution
The ink cartridge design includes a casing with an ink accommodating chamber, a tube inserting portion closer to the bottom surface, an electrical contact positioned above the tube inserting portion, and an engaging portion closer to the electrical contact to ensure precise alignment and connection with the printer's locking lever, enhancing the connection stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the cartridge side locking portion is provided on the bottom surface far from the electrical contact, then the locking mechanism can be structurally simplified, but the positional deviation of the electrical contact increases leading to connection reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by adding a side surface (lateral face) of the cartridge body as an additional interface location. The locking portion is now provided on both the bottom surface and the side surface, creating a three-dimensional distribution of interface components. This dimensional expansion allows the electrical contact and locking portion to be positioned closer together on the side surface, reducing positional deviation while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface portion is segmented into multiple locations: the bottom surface retains the locking portion while the side surface accommodates both the electrical contact and locking portion. This segmentation allows different functions to be distributed across different surfaces, enabling the electrical contact and locking mechanism to be independently optimized for their respective positions without compromising overall connection reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical contact is positioned far from the locking portion, then the interface design can accommodate larger cartridge variations, but the connection stability and alignment precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the side surface in addition to the bottom surface, the patent creates multiple interface zones that can accommodate variations in cartridge design. The side surface provides an alternative location for electrical contacts and locking portions, allowing the interface to adapt to different cartridge configurations while maintaining precise alignment through the closer proximity of components on this new surface.
3Length of moving object
If the tube inserting portion is positioned closer to the bottom surface, then the ink supply path can be shortened, but the electrical contact positioning becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial constraint by moving the electrical contact from the bottom surface to the side surface. This dimensional relocation allows the tube inserting portion to be positioned close to the bottom surface for shorter ink supply paths, while the electrical contact finds adequate space on the side surface, eliminating the conflict between these two component positioning requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
To provide an ink cartridge in which a satisfactory electrical connection with a printer main assembly can be established An ink cartridge 1 detachably mountable to a cartridge mounting portion 33 including an ink receiving tube 52, an electrical connecting portion 55 and a locking lever 58, the ink cartridge 1 includes a tube inserting portion 8 into which an ink receiving tube 52 is inserted and which is provided in a lower portion at a front surface 2c of a casing 2, an electrical contact 4 provided above the tube inserting portion 8 and electrically connectable with the electrical connecting portion 55, and an engaging portion 24 provided in a position closer to the electrical contact than to the tube inserting portion 8 and engageable with the locking lever 58.