Ink Supply Apparatus Horizontal Buffer and Differential Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
In inkjet printers, the existing liquid supplying apparatus faces challenges in reducing the load on the movable section of the buffer chamber during choke cleaning and in minimizing the height of the apparatus, particularly due to the placement of the pump and buffer chamber aligned vertically, which complicates the reduction of the apparatus's overall height.
Innovation Solution
The liquid supplying apparatus is configured with a differential pressure valve between the buffer chamber and the liquid ejecting head, and one-way valves to manage pressure differences, along with a diaphragm type pump and buffer chambers aligned horizontally to reduce the apparatus's height and alleviate load on the movable section during choke cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the pump and buffer chamber are placed vertically aligned, then the ink supply function is achieved, but the height of the apparatus cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the arrangement dimension from vertical alignment to horizontal alignment of the pump and buffer chamber. This dimensional change allows the ink supply function to be maintained while reducing the height of the apparatus, as the components are now distributed along the horizontal axis rather than stacked vertically.
2Ease of operation
If the choke valve is placed between the pump and buffer chamber, then the ink flow path can be blocked for cleaning, but the movable section of the buffer chamber is strongly attracted and a great load is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the choke valve from its position between the pump and buffer chamber, and relocates it to the ink supply path downstream of the buffer chamber. This extraction and relocation eliminates the harmful effect where the choke valve's closure caused strong attraction and excessive load on the buffer chamber's movable section, while preserving the choke cleaning function.
3Reliability
If the buffer chamber stores ink with large capacity, then ink supply stability is improved, but the apparatus height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redistributes the buffer chamber horizontally rather than extending it vertically. This allows the buffer chamber to maintain its ink storage capacity for supply stability while the apparatus height is reduced by arranging the volume along the horizontal dimension instead of the vertical dimension.
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 effectively reduces the negative pressure on the buffer chamber during choke cleaning, minimizes the load on the movable section, and allows for a more compact design by aligning components to reduce the apparatus's height while ensuring efficient ink supply to the ejecting head.
Implementation Method 1
a pulsating type pump such as a diaphragm type pump in order to supply a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink
Implementation Method 2
the inner portion of the buffer chamber also receives the negative pressure. Furthermore, in order to change a storage capacity and pressurize the stored ink, the buffer chamber is provided with a movable section such as a movable wall constituted by a film member or the like having flexibility. For that reason, there is a problem in that the movable section of the buffer chamber is strongly attracted in the direction of reducing the storage capacity at each choke cleaning
Implementation Method 3
a differential pressure valve for blocking an ink flow path that supplies ink from the pump to the liquid ejecting head. Moreover, in the case of performing the choke cleaning, the choke valve is closed by a negative pressure to be applied from opening sides of nozzles provided in the liquid ejecting head
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid supplying apparatus of a printer includes a liquid supplying path for supplying liquid from an upstream side which becomes a liquid accommodator side toward a downstream side which becomes a liquid ejecting head side; a pump; a buffer which is provided at a downstream side of the pump in the liquid supplying path, temporarily stores the liquid discharged from the pump, and has a movable section for supplying the temporarily stored liquid toward the liquid ejecting head side under pressure; and a chalk valve which is provided between the buffer and the liquid ejecting head in the liquid supplying path, and is closed to block the liquid supplying path when a negative pressure of the downstream side which becomes the liquid ejecting head side is greater than a pressing force of an upstream side which becomes the buffer side.