Ink Replenishment Seal Geometry for Lower Coupling Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink replenishment containers face challenges with increased coupling load due to a large interference volume between the ink introduction member and the seal member, making the coupling process difficult.
Innovation Solution
The ink replenishment container design includes a movable valve body biased by a spring, a seal member with a through-hole, and a first seal portion that is annular and protruding, allowing easy insertion and removal of the ink introduction member with reduced load by varying the volumes of the valve body-side and outlet-side portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal member has a large interference volume with the ink introduction member, then the sealing performance is improved, but the coupling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first thickness in the radial direction at the sealing contact region and a second thickness different from the first thickness at other regions. This local variation in thickness allows the seal member to provide adequate sealing performance at the critical contact region while reducing the overall interference volume and coupling load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the seal member by varying its thickness in different regions. Specifically, the thickness in the radial direction is changed from a uniform value to a non-uniform distribution, with the first thickness at the sealing region and the second thickness at other regions, optimizing both sealing and coupling characteristics.
2Reliability
If the seal member protrudes inward to seal the ink introduction member, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member features a localized protruding portion only at the sealing contact region rather than a uniform protrusion throughout. This localized design provides the necessary sealing effectiveness where needed while minimizing the overall interference with the ink introduction member, thereby improving ease of coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed as a flexible component with varying thickness that can deform to accommodate the ink introduction member during coupling. The thinner regions allow easier insertion while the thicker sealing region ensures effective sealing when coupled.
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 design reduces the coupling and removal load, ensuring stable ink replenishment by minimizing interference and facilitating easy attachment and detachment of the container to the ink introduction member.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member configured to bias the valve body in a first direction toward the outlet side
Data Source
AI summary
An ink replenishment container comprises an outlet valve unit including a seal member that includes a first seal portion at least partially in contact with a side surface of an ink introduction member in a valve-opened state. The first seal portion is an annular protrusion having a minimum inner diameter portion in a first radial direction. The protrusion has a height from a second direction-side inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral surface to the minimum inner diameter portion. When a position of an end of the minimum inner diameter portion in the second direction is defined as a boundary, a portion on a first direction side from the boundary is defined as an outlet-side portion, and a portion on the second direction side from the boundary is defined as a valve body-side portion, the valve body-side portion is smaller in volume than the outlet-side portion.