Ink Container Moving Member Prevents Refill Splashing

Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet printers face issues with ink splashing and contamination during refilling due to direct collision between refill ink and the existing ink surface, leading to ejection defects and contamination of the ink bottle, especially when the shielding plate is submerged in the ink.

Innovation Solution

An ink container with a moving member that moves up and down with the ink level, featuring a multi-layer structure with a low-density upper layer, a higher-density intermediate layer, and a buoyant lower layer, positioned below the replenishing opening to prevent direct contact and splashing, and optionally an ink flow portion to facilitate ink flow and prevent submersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a shielding plate is used to prevent ink splashing, then ink contamination is reduced, but the shielding plate gets submerged in ink and loses effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink contaminationVSAvoidshielding plate effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the shielding plate movable rather than fixed. The shielding plate is configured to move up and down along with the ink level changes in the ink container. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the shielding plate maintains its position above the ink surface throughout the refilling process, preventing submersion and maintaining continuous effectiveness in preventing ink splashing and contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If refill ink is poured directly into the ink container, then refilling is simple, but ink splashes and causes contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling simplicityVSAvoidink splashing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a shielding plate as a mediator between the replenishing opening and the ink surface. This shielding plate creates a physical barrier that guides the refill ink flow and prevents direct collision with the ink surface. The shielding plate acts as an intermediate structure that allows simple top-down refilling while simultaneously preventing the harmful splashing effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the ink container is filled to high level, then storage capacity is maximized, but the shielding plate becomes submerged and cannot prevent splashing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink storage capacityVSAvoidink collision and splashing

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the shielding plate movable rather than fixed. The shielding plate is configured to move up and down along with the ink level changes in the ink container. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the shielding plate maintains its position above the ink surface throughout the refilling process, preventing submersion and maintaining continuous effectiveness in preventing ink splashing and contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 splashing and contamination by ensuring the refill ink collides with the moving member rather than the ink surface, maintaining the ink level and preventing the moving member from submerging, thus ensuring smooth refilling and reducing ejection defects.

Implementation Method 1

a moving member disposed in the inside below the replenishing opening in the vertical direction, wherein the moving member moves up and down in the vertical direction with a level of a liquid surface of the ink, stored inside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11752772B2Ink container and inkjet printer

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 CANON KK

AI summary

There is provided an ink container for storing ink inside thereof. A replenishing opening refills the inside with ink. A moving member is disposed in the inside below the replenishing opening in the vertical direction. The moving member moves up and down in the vertical direction with a level of a liquid surface of the ink, stored inside, which moves up and down in the vertical direction.