Ink Cartridge Substrate Contact Angle and Pressing Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing liquid containing vessels in ink cartridges face issues with contact point faults due to positional misalignment between the substrate and the apparatus side terminal section, leading to potential non-contact or incorrect contact, and there is a need for a design that is smaller, energy-efficient, easier to manufacture, and improves usability.

Innovation Solution

The liquid containing body is designed with a substrate support member that inclines the contact section to secure contact points, overlaps with adhering sections to stabilize the substrate, and includes additional members to prevent positional deviation, ensuring reliable contact between the substrate and the apparatus side terminal section, thereby reducing contact faults.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the contact section is arranged in parallel with the insertion direction, then the structure is simple, but contact point faults occur due to positional misalignment between substrate and terminal section

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate arrangement structureVSAvoidcontact point reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact section is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees or more relative to the insertion direction, breaking the parallel symmetry. This asymmetric arrangement allows the contact section to extend toward the terminal section while being pressed, ensuring reliable contact without requiring complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate is designed to be pressible in the insertion direction, allowing dynamic adjustment during mounting. When the liquid containing vessel is inserted, the substrate is pressed toward the terminal section, automatically establishing contact. This dynamic pressing mechanism compensates for positional variations and ensures reliable contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the substrate and terminal section are positioned too separately, then manufacturing is easier, but contact cannot be established

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate positioning toleranceVSAvoidcontact establishment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is designed with pressibility in the insertion direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during mounting. When inserted, the substrate is pressed toward the terminal section, automatically closing the gap and establishing contact. This eliminates the need for precise pre-positioning while ensuring contact establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the substrate is changed from rigid to pressible/flexible in the insertion direction. This parameter change allows the substrate to deform and reach the terminal section, accommodating variations in positioning while ensuring contact establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the substrate is pressed in the opposite direction to insertion, then contact may be forced, but positional deviation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact pressureVSAvoidsubstrate position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact section is arranged asymmetrically at an angle of 45 degrees or more relative to the insertion direction. This angular arrangement allows the contact section to extend toward the terminal section while being pressed in the insertion direction, converting the pressing force into effective contact pressure without causing lateral positional deviation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate is designed to be pressible in the insertion direction, allowing dynamic compression toward the terminal section. This controlled pressing in the insertion direction, combined with the angled contact section orientation, generates necessary contact pressure while maintaining positional accuracy through the geometric relationship.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2851204B1Liquid containing body
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP2851204B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2851204B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2851204B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid containing body is configured to be contained in a liquid containing vessel that is inserted in the -Y axis direction with regard to a mounting section. The liquid containing body includes a flexible liquid containing section containing a liquid, a substrate with a contact section that electrically connects due to contact with regard to an apparatus side terminal section that is provided in the apparatus side wall section, and a substrate support member provided in the liquid containing section and supporting the substrate with a posturing where the contact section faces the -Y axis direction and the +Z axis direction.