Ink Container Outlet Structure for Bubble-Free Inkjet Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording devices face issues with ink quality deterioration due to bubble accumulation and viscosity increase in the liquid container, leading to potential ink ejection errors in the recording head.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design featuring a mini tank with a specific configuration of ink flow inlets, outlets, and bubble exhaust ports, including an inner cylinder part with obtuse angles and R-shape corners, to prevent bubble and high viscosity ink from reaching the recording head, promoting efficient ink stirring and bubble discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional liquid container is used to store ink, then the ink can be temporarily stored and fed to the recording head, but bubbles accumulate in the containing region causing ink quality deterioration and potential ejection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful bubbles from the ink by providing a dedicated bubble exhaust port that allows bubbles to be discharged from the containing region separately from the ink flow path. This separation enables the ink to be fed to the recording head while bubbles are removed through a different route, preventing bubble-related ejection errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid container is segmented into distinct functional regions: an ink flow path for ink transportation and a bubble exhaust path for bubble removal. The inner cylinder part creates a separated flow path that directs ink downward while bubbles rise and are exhausted through the bubble exhaust port, achieving functional segmentation that resolves the contradiction between ink storage and bubble management.
2Device complexity
If the ink is stored in a liquid container with a simple structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ink viscosity increases leading to feeding issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic ink circulation by providing both an ink flow inlet and an ink flow outlet, creating a circulating flow path within the containing region. This dynamic flow prevents ink stagnation and viscosity increase without requiring complex external agitation mechanisms, maintaining simple container structure while ensuring ink composition stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink flow path is designed to enable continuous ink circulation through the containing region. The ink continuously flows from the inlet, circulates within the containing region, and exits through the outlet, maintaining continuous useful action that prevents viscosity buildup without adding complex intermittent agitation devices.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inner cylinder part has a conventional sharp-cornered structure, then manufacturing is simpler, but bubbles and high viscosity ink are not effectively prevented from reaching the recording head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the corner parts of the inner cylinder part, replacing sharp corners with rounded or chamfered edges. This curved structure facilitates smoother ink flow and prevents bubble entrapment at corners, effectively preventing bubbles and high viscosity ink from reaching the recording head while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard molding techniques.
4Device complexity
If the liquid container lacks a dedicated bubble exhaust mechanism, then the device structure is simpler, but ink quality deteriorates due to bubble accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The bubble exhaust port serves multiple functions: it acts as a dedicated bubble discharge path, a pressure equalization channel, and a flow direction guide. By making the bubble exhaust mechanism multi-functional, the patent effectively removes bubbles without adding excessive structural complexity, as the same structure serves several purposes in the ink feed system.
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
Prevents ink ejection errors by effectively removing bubbles and maintaining ink viscosity, ensuring high-quality image formation in the inkjet recording device.
Implementation Method 1
The inner cylinder part has an outer peripheral surface forming a corner part with the ceiling surface, the corner part having at least one of a shape having a plurality of obtuse angles and an R-shape, in a cross-sectional view taken along a plane including an axis of the inner cylinder part
Implementation Method 2
The bubble exhaust port discharges bubbles in the containing region
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid container (100) includes a main body portion (1) that stores liquid in a containing region (10) enclosed by a bottom part (11) and a side wall part (12), a lid portion (2), a liquid flow inlet (3), a liquid flow outlet (4), and a bubble exhaust port (5). The liquid flow outlet (4) has an inner cylinder part (42) that protrudes downward from a ceiling surface (200) of the lid portion (2) in a cylindrical manner, and is disposed in the containing region (10), so as to allow the liquid flowing in through a lower end opening of the inner cylinder part (42) to flow out to the feed destination (70). The inner cylinder part (42) has an outer peripheral surface forming a corner part (210) with the ceiling surface (200), the corner part (210) having at least one of a shape having a plurality of obtuse angles and an R-shape, in a cross-sectional view taken along a plane including an axis of the inner cylinder part (42).