Ink Jet Liquid Supply Device Pressure Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording devices face fluctuations in ink supply pressure due to ink consumption, requiring complex mechanisms with liquid level detectors and pumps, which are costly and prone to breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply device with a main tank, sub tank, and adjustable supply unit that introduces gas into the main tank through a supply pipe with a first opening section below the sub tank's ventilation opening, maintaining constant liquid level in the sub tank and adjusting water head difference to stabilize ink supply pressure without the need for liquid level detectors or pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a liquid level detector and ink supply pump are used to maintain constant liquid level in the back pressure tank, then the ink supply pressure stability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the recording head's own consumption of ink to drive the replenishment process. As the recording head consumes ink, the liquid level in the back pressure tank naturally drops, allowing air to enter through the communication passage. This air entry creates pressure differential that automatically draws ink from the main tank through the supply pipe, eliminating the need for external pumps or sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic pressure differential created by air entering the back pressure tank through the communication passage when liquid level drops. This pressure change drives the hydraulic flow of ink from the main tank through the supply pipe to the back pressure tank, replacing mechanical pumping systems with pressure-based fluid control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a liquid level detector and control device are provided to adjust ink supply, then the ink supply pressure fluctuation is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates expensive external control devices by making the recording head itself the driver of the ink replenishment process. The natural consumption of ink by the recording head creates the conditions for automatic replenishment through pressure differential, removing the need for liquid level detectors, control devices, and associated infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex control subsystem (liquid level detector, control device, pump) from the system. Instead of adding these components to maintain pressure stability, the design uses a simplified passive mechanism where the communication passage between tanks and the recording head's consumption behavior provide automatic pressure regulation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sub tank liquid level is kept constant by automatic supply, then the supply pressure stability is improved, but the reliability decreases due to more components
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates failure-prone components by making the recording head's natural operation the control mechanism. The recording head consumes ink, which naturally creates pressure differential that drives replenishment through the communication passage and supply pipe, removing liquid level detectors and pumps that are susceptible to breakdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements passive feedback where the liquid level drop in the back pressure tank (caused by recording head consumption) directly triggers the replenishment mechanism through air entry and pressure differential. This natural feedback loop maintains pressure stability without requiring active sensing or control systems.
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
The solution provides a simple, cost-effective, and breakdown-resistant method to stabilize ink supply pressure, allowing for efficient liquid supply to the recording head during varying conditions like printing and cleaning, without the need for complex control systems.
Implementation Method 1
a sub tank (6) for receiving liquid from the main tank (2) by a water head difference via the supply pipe (5) and storing the liquid
Implementation Method 2
When the liquid level of the liquid reaches the first opening section (8) in the sub tank (6), the first opening section (8) is blocked by the liquid, and the introduction of the gas is stopped. At the same time, the supply of liquid to the main tank (2) is also stopped.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ink jet device capable of adjusting supply pressure of liquid to a recording head in which a fluctuation in the supply pressure of liquid caused by liquid consumption on a recording head is repressed in a simple constitution. The ink jet device includes a main tank 2, a sub tank 6 for receiving liquid from the main tank 2 and storing the liquid, and a supply unit for supplying the liquid stored in the sub tank 6 to the recording head 11, the supply unit adjusts a height of the sub tank, and the sub tank 6 has a ventilation opening 12.