Ink Container Key Layout for Clean Electrical Contacting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink containers in inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with ink adherence to keying features and electrical contacts, leading to contamination and improper attachment due to non-matching keying features.
Innovation Solution
The ink container design includes a first key portion positioned above the supply port and electrical interface, reducing ink adherence by positioning these components away from the contact surface, and utilizing distinct keying features for each ink color to ensure correct attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the key portion and electrical interface are positioned near the supply port for compact design, then the device complexity is reduced, but ink adherence to these components increases causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the key portion and electrical interface from the horizontal plane near the supply port to the vertical dimension, placing them above the supply port. This dimensional change separates these components from the ink flow path while maintaining compact overall device footprint, effectively reducing ink contamination risk without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If the key portion is positioned to match the key receiving feature for proper attachment, then the reliability of ink container attachment is improved, but the risk of improper attachment due to non-matching features persists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric key portion design with specific geometric features (protrusions, recesses, or shaped interfaces) that only match the corresponding key receiving feature in the recording head. This asymmetric configuration ensures that ink containers can only be properly attached in the correct orientation and position, preventing improper attachment of mismatched components while maintaining high attachment reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink container includes a chamber, an ink supply portion, an electrical interface, and a first key portion. The ink supply portion is configured to supply ink from the chamber. The supply port defines a front end of the ink supply portion. The supply port is oriented in an attachment direction. The electrical interface has a contact surface facing upward in an up-down direction. The contact surface of the electrical interface is positioned above the supply port in the up-down direction. The first key portion is positioned forward of the supply port in the attachment direction, above the supply port in the up-down direction, and below the contact surface of the electrical interface in the up-down direction.