Ink Container Venting Structure for Bubble-Free Head Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording devices face issues with ink quality deterioration due to bubbles entering the recording head, leading to ejection errors and poor image quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design with a bubble exhaust port positioned at the top of a lid portion, inclined to facilitate efficient bubble discharge, combined with strategically placed ink flow inlets and outlets to prevent bubbles from reaching the recording head, and a structure that promotes ink stirring to avoid viscosity increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional liquid container is used without a bubble exhaust port, then the structure is simple, but bubbles enter the recording head causing ejection errors and poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful bubbles from the liquid flow path by providing a dedicated bubble exhaust port that separates bubble discharge from the liquid ejection path. The bubble exhaust port is positioned at the top of the container where bubbles naturally accumulate, allowing them to be vented separately from the liquid that feeds the recording head.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a liquid storage region with an inclined bottom surface that directs liquid toward the outlet, and a bubble accumulation region at the top with a separate exhaust port. This segmentation allows liquid and bubbles to be managed independently, with liquid flowing along the inclined surface to the outlet while bubbles rise to the exhaust port.
2Reliability
If the lid portion ceiling surface is flat, then the structure is simple, but bubbles accumulate and are not effectively discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling surface of the lid portion is designed with asymmetric inclination angles - a first inclined surface with a larger angle and a second inclined surface with a smaller angle. This asymmetric design creates a preferential path for bubbles to travel along the steeper first inclined surface toward the bubble exhaust port, improving discharge efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If ink flows directly from storage container to recording head, then the process is simple, but viscosity increases due to lack of stirring causing ejection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of the liquid container is designed with a curved, inclined shape rather than a flat surface. This curvature creates natural flow patterns that promote mixing and prevent stagnant zones where viscosity could increase. The inclined curved surface directs liquid flow toward the outlet while creating turbulence that maintains uniform ink properties.
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 quality, ensuring consistent image quality in the inkjet recording device.
Implementation Method 1
The first part is a part having a larger upward inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction than the second part. The bubble exhaust port is disposed at a top part of the first part.
Implementation Method 2
a structure that promotes ink stirring to avoid viscosity increases
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid container (100) includes a main body portion (1) having a bottom part (11) and a side wall part (12), so as to store liquid in a containing region (10) enclosed by the bottom part (11) and the side wall part (12), a lid portion (2), a liquid flow inlet (3) that allows the liquid to flow into the containing region (10), a liquid flow outlet (4) that allows the liquid to flow out from the containing region (10) to a feed destination (70), and a bubble exhaust port (5) that discharges bubbles in the containing region (10). The lid portion (2) has a ceiling surface (200) defining an upper part of the containing region (10), and the ceiling surface (200) has a first part (201) and a second part (202). The first part (201) has a larger upward inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction than the second part (202), and the bubble exhaust port (5) is disposed at a top part of the first part (201).