Ink Container Corner Curvature for Bubble-Free Head Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording devices face issues with ink quality deterioration due to bubble ingress and viscosity increase in the ink flow path, leading to potential ejection errors in the recording head.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container with a mini tank design featuring a main body portion, lid portion, and strategically positioned ink flow inlets, outlets, and bubble exhaust ports, which promotes ink stirring and efficient bubble removal, preventing bubbles and high viscosity ink from reaching the recording head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional liquid container with straight corner parts is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but bubbles accumulate in the corner parts and ink viscosity increases, leading to ejection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The corner parts of the liquid container are designed with curved surfaces instead of sharp angles. Specifically, the inner surfaces of the corner parts have a radius of curvature R1 (5-15mm) that is larger than the thickness T1 of the container wall. This curvature prevents bubble accumulation and reduces ink viscosity increase, thereby improving ink ejection accuracy without significantly complicating the container structure.
2Reliability
If the liquid container has a simple design without bubble exhaust ports, then the device complexity is low, but bubbles accumulate in the ink flow path causing ejection errors
Solution Approach 1:
Bubble exhaust ports are added to the liquid container at positions where bubbles naturally accumulate (such as high points and corner regions). These ports provide dedicated escape routes for bubbles, separating the bubble removal function from the ink flow path. This extraction of the bubble removal function improves ink ejection accuracy by preventing bubble-related ejection errors.
3Reliability
If ink flows directly from storage to recording head, then the system is simple, but ink viscosity increases and bubbles ingress in the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container is designed with features that prepare the ink for optimal flow conditions before it reaches the recording head. The curved corner parts prevent bubble accumulation in advance, and bubble exhaust ports remove bubbles proactively from the ink flow path. These preliminary actions ensure that only high-quality, bubble-free ink flows to the recording head, improving ink flow quality.
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 discharging bubbles and maintaining ink viscosity, ensuring high-quality image formation.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom part and the side wall part constitute a corner part, which has an R-shaped inner surface at least partially
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container includes a main body portion having a bottom part and a side wall part, so as to store liquid in a containing region enclosed by the bottom part and the side wall part, a lid portion that covers the containing region from above, a liquid flow inlet that allows the liquid to flow into the containing region, and a liquid flow outlet that allows the liquid to flow out from the containing region to a feed destination. The bottom part and the side wall part constitute a corner part, which has an R-shaped inner surface at least partially.