Ink Cartridge Slide Coupling for Replaceable Ink Sack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink cartridges do not allow for the replacement of the ink sack, leading to resource waste and increased expenditure, and suffer from incorrect ink level detection and poor positioning of the connector, resulting in inaccurate data and potential delays.
Innovation Solution
An ink-sack-replaceable ink cartridge design featuring a cartridge body with slide coupling sections and positioning protrusions, allowing the cartridge cover to slide and separate for easy ink sack replacement, ensuring accurate ink level detection and compatibility with various ink sack sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If snap blocks are snap fit into snap notches to combine cartridge cover and cartridge body, then the coupling is strong and secure, but the cartridge cover cannot be separated from the cartridge body, preventing ink sack replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the coupling mechanism into two independent systems: a snap fit system for lateral connection (providing strength) and a slide coupling system for longitudinal separation (enabling replacement). The cartridge body and cover are segmented into replaceable and non-replaceable portions, allowing the ink sack to be replaced while reusing the cartridge body and cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static, permanent snap fit to a dynamic system with two stages: initial snap fit engagement for secure coupling, followed by longitudinal sliding movement that disengages the snap blocks from snap notches, enabling separation and replacement of the ink sack while maintaining structural integrity during assembly.
2Device complexity
If the pressing portion is provided on the pressing board without position constraint, then the structure is simple, but the pressing portion may deviate from the through hole position, causing incorrect ink level detection
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning protrusions are pre-formed on the pressing board at the correct location, and positioning grooves are pre-formed on the cartridge body. These preliminary positioning features guide the pressing portion into correct alignment with the through hole before the ink sack is installed, ensuring accurate ink level detection without adding complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and grooves act as intermediary elements between the pressing board and cartridge body, providing mechanical guidance and constraint that ensures the pressing portion aligns correctly with the through hole. This intermediary positioning system eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Reliability
If constraint walls are formed in the cartridge body to constrain the connector, then lateral movement is restricted, but longitudinal movement is still allowed, resulting in poor connection with the ink feeding tube
Solution Approach 1:
The constraint mechanism is segmented into two independent functions: constraint walls for lateral positioning stability and slide coupling sections for longitudinal connection control. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector constraint system transitions from static lateral constraint walls to a dynamic slide coupling mechanism that provides both lateral stability and controlled longitudinal movement. The slide coupling sections allow the connector to move longitudinally during installation and replacement while maintaining lateral positioning, ensuring reliable connection with the ink feeding tube.
Data Source
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AI summary
An ink-sack-replaceable ink cartridge (100) includes a cartridge body (10), which includes a bottom wall (11), two lateral walls (12) extending upward from two sides of the bottom wall (11), and two end walls (13) extending upward from two ends of the bottom wall (11) and connected to the lateral walls (12). The bottom wall (11), the lateral walls (12), and the end walls (13) jointly define a receiving space (14). The bottom wall (11) is formed with a through hole (111). Each of the lateral walls (12) includes a cartridge-body slide coupling section (129). A cartridge cover (40) includes a top wall (41) and two side walls (42) extending downward from two sides of the top wall (41). Each of the side walls (42) includes a cartridge-cover slide coupling section. The cartridge-cover slide coupling sections are slidably connectable with the cartridge-body slide coupling sections (129), so that the cartridge cover (40) is combinable with and separable from the cartridge body (10) through slidable connection for closing or opening the receiving space (14).