Liquid Ejection Device Ink Injection Port Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

In liquid ejection devices like inkjet printers, there is a risk of the opening and closing body unintentionally closing during liquid refilling, potentially causing contact with the liquid supply container and leading to leakage, while also increasing the device size due to the placement of injection ports.

Innovation Solution

The device design includes at least one injection port within the opening and closing region of the first opening and closing body, with others outside this region, and employs a second opening and closing body that can contact the first to maintain an opening angle, reducing the risk of leakage and allowing for space-saving placement of liquid container portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the injection port is located outside the opening and closing region, then the risk of contact between the opening and closing body and the liquid supply container is reduced, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of contact between opening and closing body and liquid supply containerVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the injection ports into two groups: some are located inside the opening and closing region while others are located outside. This segmentation allows the device to maintain compact size by utilizing the space within the opening and closing region, while still providing safe refilling options outside this region to reduce contact risk during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the injection port is located inside the opening and closing region, then the device size is reduced, but the risk of contact between the opening and closing body and the liquid supply container increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidrisk of contact between opening and closing body and liquid supply container

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the injection ports into two groups: some are located inside the opening and closing region while others are located outside. This segmentation allows the device to maintain compact size by utilizing the space within the opening and closing region, while still providing safe refilling options outside this region to reduce contact risk during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If all injection ports are located outside the opening and closing region, then the risk of liquid leakage is reduced, but the liquid container portions cannot be provided in a space-saving manner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of liquid leakageVSAvoidspace utilization for liquid container portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the injection ports into two groups: some are located inside the opening and closing region while others are located outside. This segmentation allows the device to maintain compact size by utilizing the space within the opening and closing region, while still providing safe refilling options outside this region to reduce contact risk during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10675874B2Liquid ejection device

Publication Date: 2020.06.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printer 1 serving as a liquid ejection device includes: a device body 2 including a recording head 20 that ejects ink; a scanner unit 3 that closes and opens at least a portion of an upper portion of the device body 2; and a plurality of ink tank 10 that are provided in the device body 2, each contain ink to be supplied to the recording head 20, and each include an ink injection port 26 through which the ink can be injected from a liquid supply container. At least one of the plurality of ink injection ports 26 is located inside an opening and closing region that is opened and closed by the scanner unit 3, and the other ink injection ports 26 are located outside the opening and closing region.