Ink Tank Connection Port Guide Hole Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers with large ink consumption face issues of positional deviation of sealing valves, leading to poor bubble releasability and unstable ink supply, which can result in ink leakage or splattering during ink supply and air introduction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a configuration with an integrated ink lead-out and atmosphere introduction port, featuring a regulating body with a spring and sealing member to maintain valve position and enhance seal reliability, ensuring stable ink supply and preventing positional deviation of the sealing valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing valve with spring is used in the connection portion, then ink supply function is improved, but the valve position deviates during opening/closing, deteriorating seal properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a guide hole in the connection portion through which the sealing valve passes. This guide structure is pre-configured to constrain the valve's movement path, ensuring the valve opens and closes at the correct position before any ink supply operation occurs, thereby preventing position deviation and maintaining reliable seal properties
Solution Approach 2:
The guide hole acts as an intermediary element between the sealing valve and the connection portion housing. It mediates the valve's movement by providing a constrained path, allowing the valve to move smoothly while maintaining precise positioning during opening and closing operations, thus resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and position stability
2Reliability
If air introduction port is provided separately from ink lead-out port, then bubble releasability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air introduction port and ink lead-out port into a single integrated connection portion structure. The guide hole serves dual purposes: it guides the sealing valve for ink supply while simultaneously serving as the air introduction path. This consolidation maintains bubble releasability through the guide hole while reducing device complexity by eliminating separate port structures
3Ease of manufacture
If the connection portion lacks an opening above the sealing valve, then manufacturing is simplified, but bubble releasability deteriorates during simultaneous ink supply and air introduction
Solution Approach 1:
The guide hole in the connection portion is designed with multi-functionality. It serves as both a positioning guide for the sealing valve and as an air introduction channel. This universal structure provides the necessary opening for bubble releasability without requiring additional separate openings, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring reliable bubble release during simultaneous ink supply and air introduction operations
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 prevents valve positional deviation, improves bubble releasability, and ensures stable ink supply to the recording head, reducing the risk of ink leakage or splattering, even when the ink tank is accidentally dropped.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-shaped elastic member that urges the valve toward an ink supply port
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention is to prevent positional deviation of a sealing valve, improve bubble releasability during atmosphere introduction, and stably supply ink to a recording head. The configuration is provided with an opening 270 on an upper portion of a cylindrical regulating body 165 of a joint base 140 in a state where an ink tank 100 is mounted on a connection unit 10 of a printer.