Multi-Chamber Ink Supply with Regulated Air Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing devices face issues with air entrainment in the ink supply system, which impedes ink flow due to freezing, thawing, or low ink levels, leading to trapped air in the regulated chamber that restricts ink delivery to the printer.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber ink supply system with a regulated and free-ink chamber, utilizing a purge valve or one-way valve to vent air from the regulated chamber to the free-ink chamber when pressure thresholds are reached, facilitated by a spring-biased airbag that inflates to increase pressure and deflate to draw air out, ensuring controlled ink flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a regulated chamber is used to control ink flow to the printhead, then ink delivery control is improved, but air can become trapped in the regulated chamber restricting ink delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The ink supply system is divided into two separate chambers: a regulated chamber that controls ink delivery to the printhead and a free-ink chamber that stores excess ink and accommodates air. This segmentation allows the regulated chamber to maintain precise ink flow control while the free-ink chamber absorbs air entrapment issues, preventing air from restricting ink delivery to the printhead.
2Quantity of substance
If ambient air is drawn into the free-ink chamber to displace extracted ink, then ink level maintenance is improved, but air can become trapped in the regulated chamber
Solution Approach 1:
Air is extracted from the regulated chamber through a dedicated air ejection mechanism that transfers trapped air into the free-ink chamber. This extraction process removes the harmful effect of air entrapment from the regulated chamber while the free-ink chamber serves as an appropriate receptacle for the extracted air, maintaining ink level without compromising ink flow continuity.
3Device complexity
If a single-chamber ink supply is used, then device complexity is reduced, but air entrapment restricts ink flow
Solution Approach 1:
The ink supply system is segmented into a regulated chamber for controlled ink delivery and a free-ink chamber for air accommodation and ink storage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the regulated chamber to maintain reliable ink delivery while the free-ink chamber handles air entrapment, preventing air from restricting ink flow to the printhead.
4Manufacturing precision
If the regulated chamber is pressure regulated for controlled ink provision, then printing precision is improved, but air buildup restricts ink delivery
Solution Approach 1:
Air is continuously extracted from the regulated chamber through a pressure-regulated air ejection mechanism that maintains optimal pressure for precise ink delivery while removing trapped air. The extracted air is transferred to the free-ink chamber, which accommodates it without affecting printing precision, thus eliminating the harmful effect of air buildup while preserving pressure regulation benefits.
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 solution effectively reduces pressure in the regulated chamber, preventing air buildup and ensuring consistent ink delivery to the printer, thereby enhancing printing performance and extending the shelf life and longevity of the ink supply.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-biased airbag that inflates to increase pressure and deflate to draw air out
Implementation Method 2
a regulator coupled between the first chamber and the second chamber, the regulator to enable gas to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber when a pressure within the first chamber reaches a threshold
Data Source
AI summary
Ink supplies are disclosed in examples herein. An example apparatus a housing includes a first chamber and a second chamber, the housing defining a first port to fluidly couple the first chamber to a printer, the housing including a second port to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber to flow fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber. The apparatus also includes a regulator coupled between the first chamber and the second chamber, the regulator to flow gas from the first chamber to the second chamber when a pressure within the first chamber reaches a threshold.