Ink Replenishment Container With Spring Valve Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink replenishment containers for inkjet printers are inefficient in quickly replenishing ink and are challenging to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
The ink replenishment container features an outlet valve unit with a spring valve mechanism that seals the ink outlet during non-replenishment and opens to allow ink flow during replenishment, along with a cap that ensures internal pressure is released, facilitating stable and efficient ink replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional ink replenishment container is used, then the structure is simple, but the ink replenishment speed is slow and manual squeezing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The spring valve mechanism automatically opens when ink level rises and closes when ink level drops, eliminating the need for manual operation. The system serves itself by using the ink's own weight and the spring's elasticity to control the valve, achieving automatic ink replenishment without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by utilizing the weight of the ink liquid to activate the spring valve mechanism. As ink flows into the container, the rising liquid level compresses the spring, which then opens the valve to allow continuous flow until the liquid level drops sufficiently to release the spring and close the valve.
2Ease of repair
If a conventional ink replenishment container is used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but maintenance and component replacement are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ink replenishment container is divided into separable components including the container body, spring valve mechanism, and cap. This segmentation allows individual components to be easily removed, inspected, and replaced without disassembling the entire structure, significantly improving maintenance ease while remaining manufacturable through standard assembly processes.
3Reliability
If the outlet valve is always open, then ink flows freely, but ink leaks during non-replenishment periods
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet valve transitions from a static always-open or always-closed state to a dynamic state that automatically opens and closes based on ink level. The spring valve mechanism responds in real-time to the ink level, opening to allow flow when needed and closing to prevent leakage when not needed, achieving both reliable sealing and efficient ink transfer.
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
This configuration enables quick and efficient ink replenishment without manual squeezing, improves sealing performance, and simplifies manufacturing and maintenance by allowing for easy replacement of components.
Implementation Method 1
an outlet valve unit (500) configured to seal the ink outlet (460) by using a spring valve mechanism
Implementation Method 2
a cap (600) that ensures internal pressure is released
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an ink replenishment container for replenishing ink into an ink tank via an ink inlet flow path member having a plurality of flow paths, the ink replenishment container including a container main body, an ink outlet forming portion, and an outlet valve unit. The outlet valve unit includes a valve housing mounted to provide a gap with an inner peripheral surface of a tubular portion in the tubular portion, a sealing member, and a valve movable between a valve close state in contact with the sealing member and a valve open state separated from the sealing member. The valve body has a partition contact portion capable of contacting a partition of the ink inlet flow path member. The valve housing has a through-hole that communicates with the gap, and the through-hole communicates with the ink inlet flow path member in the valve open state.