Liquid Storage Container Guide Portion for Ink Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face issues where ink can spread and remain attached in the vicinity of the ink injection portion, preventing it from being directed into the storage container.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a liquid storage container with a reservoir, a liquid injection portion, a liquid holding unit, and a liquid guide portion that directs the injected liquid from the injection portion to the holding unit, preventing spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ink injection portion is provided in the liquid storage container, then the user can inject ink into the container, but the ink may spread and remain attached in the vicinity of the injection portion instead of being directed into the storage container
Solution Approach 1:
A guide portion is introduced as an intermediary structure between the ink injection portion and the storage container. This guide portion directs the flow of injected ink along a controlled path, preventing the ink from spreading to the exterior surface of the container while ensuring it reaches the intended storage area inside the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion is specifically positioned and shaped to provide localized control over ink flow only in the critical area where injection occurs. The guide structure creates a localized flow channel that confines ink movement, allowing free injection operation while preventing contamination in specific vulnerable areas around the injection portion.
2Ease of operation
If the liquid storage container has an open injection port for easy ink injection, then the injection process is simple, but the liquid may leak or spread outside the container
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion serves as a mediator structure that connects the open injection port to the storage container interior. It maintains the simplicity of open injection while adding a controlling function that directs liquid flow, thereby preventing leakage and spreading without complicating the injection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion is pre-formed as an integral part of the storage container structure. This preliminary provision of the guiding path ensures that as soon as ink is injected, it is automatically directed along the correct path, preventing leakage before it can occur and maintaining reliable containment throughout the injection process.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head to discharge liquid to a medium and a liquid storage container. The liquid storage container includes a reservoir portion, a liquid injection portion, a liquid holding unit, and a liquid guide portion. The reservoir portion reserves the liquid that is supplied to the liquid discharge head. The liquid injection portion allows a liquid injection container for injecting the liquid into the reservoir portion to be inserted in the liquid injection portion in a first direction. The liquid holding unit is provided at a position spaced apart from the liquid injection portion and is capable of holding the liquid. The liquid guide portion guides the liquid from the liquid injection portion to the liquid holding unit in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.