Ink Supply Container Layout for Bubble-Safe Continuous Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet recording apparatuses with continuous supply type ink containers (CISS tanks) face issues with ink overflowing due to air bubbles generated during ink pouring, which can disrupt continuous printing.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a first and a second ink accommodating container, where the first container has a lower height from the bottom to the ink pouring port and features a lower foaming property ink composition, and a second container with a higher foaming property ink composition, preventing air bubble overflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a continuous supply type ink container is used to enable continuous printing without replacing the ink cartridge, then productivity is improved, but air bubbles generated during ink pouring may overflow from the container causing harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous printing capabilityVSAvoidair bubble overflow

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ink accommodating container is divided into multiple separate containers (first ink accommodating container and second ink accommodating container), each with different heights from the bottom to the ink pouring port. This segmentation allows each container to be optimized for its specific ink composition's foaming characteristics, preventing air bubble overflow while maintaining continuous printing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the ink accommodating container system are given different properties - specifically, the first ink accommodating container has a greater height from bottom to pouring port for inks with low foaming property, while the second has a smaller height for inks with high foaming property. This local differentiation of container geometry matches the local quality of each ink composition's foaming behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If ink composition with higher foaming property is used in the container with greater height from bottom to pouring port, then ink capacity is improved, but air bubbles will overflow causing instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink capacityVSAvoidoperational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by matching specific container geometries to specific ink compositions - the first container with greater height receives ink with lower foaming property, while the second container with smaller height receives ink with higher foaming property. This localized matching ensures both maximum ink capacity and operational stability for each container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameter (height from bottom to pouring port) of the ink accommodating containers to match the foaming property parameter of different ink compositions. By adjusting the container height parameter according to the ink's foaming characteristics, the system achieves both high ink capacity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If ink composition with lower foaming property is used to suppress air bubble overflow, then reliability is improved, but ink capacity in containers with greater height is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuppression of ink overflowVSAvoidink capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ink accommodating container into multiple containers with different height characteristics. The first container with greater height is filled with low-foaming ink to maximize capacity while suppressing overflow, and the second container with smaller height is filled with high-foaming ink, collectively achieving both high total ink capacity and high reliability across the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration effectively suppresses ink overflow and ensures continuous printing by minimizing foaming, maintaining operational stability.

Implementation Method 1

the first ink composition has a lower foaming property than the second ink composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoaming suppression: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image or the like on a recording medium by minute ink droplets discharged from a nozzle of a recording head for ink jet recording

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInk jet discharge: Jet

Data Source

PatentUS12570090B2Ink jet recording apparatus and recording method using ink accommodating containers having the same height at an ink pouring port

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ink jet recording apparatus includes: an ink accommodating container having an ink pouring port; an ink composition; and an ink jet head that discharges the ink composition supplied from the ink accommodating container, in which the ink accommodating container includes a first ink accommodating container and a second ink accommodating container having a lower height from a bottom of the accommodating container to the ink pouring port than the first ink accommodating container, the ink composition includes a first ink composition accommodated in the first ink accommodating container and a second ink composition accommodated in the second ink accommodating container, and the first ink composition has a lower foaming property than the second ink composition.