Liquid Ejection Apparatus Ink Container Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with air entering the ink container when it is pulled out for stirring, leading to evaporation of moisture and increased viscosity of the ink, which affects image quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a holding unit for a tray with a detachable container, a first restriction unit to control tray removal, a connector for the container substrate, and a second restriction unit to prevent movement of the first restriction unit when the connector is in contact, ensuring the tray is locked until a new ink container is mounted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ink container is pulled out of the apparatus for stirring, then the user can perform stirring in the ink container, but air enters the supply port causing evaporation of moisture and increased viscosity of the ink
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling stirring to be performed before the ink container is removed from the apparatus. The stirring unit is activated automatically when the ink container is mounted, allowing color materials to precipitate and be stirred prior to removal. This prevents air from entering the supply port during stirring operations, thereby avoiding ink evaporation and viscosity changes that would affect image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the stirring unit with rotating blades - that enables stirring without requiring the ink container to be removed from the apparatus. This intermediary device allows the user to stir ink while the container remains sealed and connected to the ejection head, preventing air contact and maintaining ink properties.
2Ease of operation
If the tray is made detachable for container mounting, then the container can be easily mounted and removed, but the tray can be accidentally pulled out causing air to enter the ink container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by implementing a locking mechanism that prevents the tray from being accidentally pulled out. The locking unit engages with the tray to restrict its movement, counteracting the harmful effect of accidental removal before it can occur. This allows the tray to remain detachable for intentional container mounting while protecting against unintended air entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by designing a movable locking unit that can transition between locked and unlocked states. The locking unit is movable along the tray and can be engaged or disengaged based on operational needs, allowing the system to dynamically switch between secure (tray fixed) and accessible (tray removable) states.
3Reliability
If the first restriction unit is always at the restriction position to prevent tray removal, then air cannot enter the ink container, but the user cannot remove the tray for container replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the locking unit movable rather than fixed. The locking unit can be positioned at the restriction position to prevent tray removal and protect against air entry, or moved to a non-restriction position to allow tray removal for container replacement. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and enabling operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the locking function from a fixed constraint and makes it a movable, controllable unit. By separating the locking mechanism from the tray structure itself and making it independently movable, the system can selectively apply restriction only when needed, rather than being permanently constrained.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a tray on which a container configured to contain liquid to be supplied to an ejection head is detachably mounted, a first restriction unit configured to be movable to a restriction position where the first restriction unit restricts pulling the tray out of the holding unit and to a non-restriction position where the first restriction unit does not restrict pulling the tray out of the holding unit, a connector configured to be in contact with a substrate of the container, and a second restriction unit configured to, in a case where the substrate is in contact with the connector and the first restriction unit is at the restriction position, restrict movement of the first restriction unit to the non-restriction position.