Ink Supply Container With Removable Film Lining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet printers face challenges in reusing ink bottles due to ink adhesion to components, leading to large volumes of discarded materials and limited usage.

Innovation Solution

An ink supply container with a film attached to its inner surfaces, allowing for easy removal and reuse by peeling off the film with residual ink, reducing waste volume and enabling refilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If the ink bottle is reused, then the volume of discarded components is reduced, but ink adheres to all components making reuse difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of discarded componentsVSAvoidease of reuse

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the ink bottle into two functional segments: the container body (which is reused) and the film lining (which is discarded with the ink). This segmentation allows the container to be separated from the ink-adhering film, enabling reuse of the container while the film absorbs all ink residue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The film is extracted as a separate removable component from the container system. After use, the film is peeled off and discarded with all adhering ink, while the clean container is retained for refilling and reuse, effectively extracting the contamination from the reusable portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If all components of the ink bottle are discarded, then ink adhesion is not a problem, but the volume of discarded components is large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of disposalVSAvoidvolume of discarded components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ink bottle is segmented into a reusable container and a disposable film, allowing selective disposal of only the film portion that contains the ink, rather than discarding the entire bottle assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The film is extracted as the sole component to be discarded, separating it from the container. This extraction enables disposal of minimal waste (only the thin film) while retaining the valuable container for reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of substance

If the film is attached to the inner surfaces, then residual ink is contained in the film, but the film must be properly removed and replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual ink containmentVSAvoidfilm replacement process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The film is pre-installed on the container interior before use, creating a ready-to-contain barrier that will hold all residual ink. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the ink is depleted, the film is already in position to capture and contain all remaining ink for easy removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11745512B2Ink supply container and method of reproducing the ink supply container

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ink supply container configured to supply an ink to a printer includes a container part configured to contain the ink, a conduit part on a top side of the container part, the conduit part being configured to lead the ink out, a cap configured to protect the conduit part, the cap being detachably attached to the conduit part, and a film attached to at least one of an inner surface of the container part, an inner surface of the conduit part, and an inner surface of the cap.