Ink Tank Cover Structure to Protect Film-Sealed Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink tanks for multifunction peripherals are prone to damage or deformation during attachment and ink replenishment due to contact with the housing or load from stored ink, compromising the integrity of the film seals.
Innovation Solution
A tank design featuring a frame with a cover that has greater strength than the film, ensuring the tank's structural integrity by covering at least part of the opening, and a tank cover with a fixing portion and cover portion to enhance protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a film is used to cover the opening of the ink tank, then the tank can be manufactured with simpler structure and lower cost, but the film is easily damaged or deformed during attachment and ink replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from film to cover, fundamentally altering the strength characteristic while maintaining the sealing function. The cover is designed with substantially the same thickness as the tank main body, ensuring comparable strength and resistance to deformation during attachment and ink replenishment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by integrating the cover as a separate component made of different material properties than the film. The cover and tank main body are substantially the same thickness, creating a composite structure that combines the advantages of both components while mitigating their individual weaknesses.
2Reliability
If a cover with greater strength than film is used to cover the opening, then the strength and durability of the tank is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cover with the tank main body through substantially the same thickness design, creating a unified structural appearance. The cover is positioned to substantially coincide with the outer peripheral surface of the tank main body, making the combined structure appear as a single integrated component rather than separate parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural strength to prevent damage during attachment, maintains the seal of the opening, and coincides with the outer peripheral surface to preserve the tank's aesthetic appearance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Shape
If the cover coincides with the outer peripheral surface of the tank main body, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the cover to be substantially the same as the tank main body, which simplifies the manufacturing process compared to achieving precise dimensional tolerances for a flush fit. This parameter change allows the cover to naturally coincide with the outer peripheral surface while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A tank includes a frame and a cover. The frame defines a storage chamber for storing liquid and a first opening. The first opening faces in a downward direction or in a horizontal direction in a state where the tank is attached to a liquid ejection device. The cover is fixed to the frame. The cover covers at least part of the first opening. The strength of the cover is greater than the strength of a film.