Ink Cartridge Layout for Smooth Flow and Higher Fill Volume
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cartridges with sloped portions on both sides of the liquid containing space reduce the liquid capacity and create gaps when packaged, leading to inefficient use of packaging space.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design with a liquid supply portion that couples to a liquid inlet via rotational movement, where the distance between the liquid flowing-in port and the rear wall inner surface is shorter than that to the front wall inner surface, allowing for efficient liquid supply and packaging without gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the portions on both sides of the bottom surface are sloped toward the liquid supply port, then the liquid can flow to the liquid supply port smoothly, but the capacity of the liquid containing space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface is designed with asymmetric sloped portions: a first sloped portion on the rear wall side and a second sloped portion on the front wall side. The first sloped portion has a larger slope angle than the second sloped portion, creating asymmetric liquid flow paths that optimize both flow efficiency and liquid capacity retention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bottom surface are given different properties: the rear wall side has a steeper slope to facilitate liquid flow, while the front wall side has a gentler slope to maintain liquid capacity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between flow smoothness and capacity.
2Ease of operation
If the portions on both sides of the bottom surface are sloped, then liquid can flow smoothly, but gaps are formed between the cartridge and packaging box, reducing occupancy ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric bottom surface design with different slope angles on rear and front sides creates a compact cartridge shape that reduces gaps during packaging, while still maintaining smooth liquid flow through the strategically positioned sloped portions.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the slope angles and positions of the sloped portions, the design achieves a balance where liquid flow remains smooth but the overall cartridge footprint is minimized, improving packaging occupancy ratio.
3Volume of moving object
If the liquid supply portion is positioned closer to the rear wall, then packaging efficiency improves, but the liquid flow path may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface is segmented into multiple sloped portions (first sloped portion on rear wall side, second sloped portion on front wall side) with different characteristics. This segmentation allows the liquid supply portion to be positioned optimally for packaging efficiency while maintaining multiple liquid flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear wall side features a steeper sloped portion to facilitate efficient liquid flow to the supply port, while the front wall side has a gentler slope. This local quality differentiation ensures that positioning the supply port near the rear wall does not compromise liquid flow efficiency.
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 maintains liquid capacity and optimizes packaging efficiency by ensuring smooth liquid flow and compact storage.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid supply portion is coupled to the liquid inlet portion due to rotational movement of a rear-wall side, which is closer to the containing portion rear wall, of the cartridge downward around a rotation fulcrum
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A technique for preventing a decrease in an amount of liquid contained in a cartridge is provided. The cartridge includes a liquid containing portion and a liquid supply portion. The liquid supply portion is coupled to the liquid inlet portion due to rotational movement of a containing-portion-rear-wall side of the cartridge downward around a rotation fulcrum, which is located on the insertion direction side, of the cartridge mounting portion. In the insertion direction, a first distance between a liquid flowing-in port and a rear wall inner surface, which is an inner surface of a containing portion rear wall, is shorter than a second distance between the liquid flowing-in port and a front wall inner surface, which is an inner surface of a containing portion front wall.