Ink Tank Unit Spill Prevention Guide Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face issues with ink spilling or dripping during filling, leading to contamination and print quality deterioration, as existing methods lack effective prevention mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an ink tank unit with an ink receiving section and guide path on the tank and case members to contain and direct spilled ink, and a valve system with a float member to control ink flow, preventing overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ink is filled into the ink container using an ink fill vessel, then the ink container can be filled with ink, but ink will spill out or drip down from the ink fill vessel causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of ink spillage into a beneficial feature by providing an ink receiving section that captures spilled ink and redirects it back into the ink container through a guide path. This transforms the contamination problem into a self-correcting system where spilled ink is recovered and reused.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (ink receiving section and guide path) between the ink fill vessel and the environment. This intermediary captures spilled ink before it can contaminate the printer interior and channels it back to the ink container, preventing harm while maintaining the filling function.
2Reliability
If ink spills out from the ink fill vessel, then contamination spreads throughout the printer, but no prevention method is provided in existing solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the harmful spread of ink contamination into a beneficial recovery system. The ink receiving section and guide path capture spilled ink and return it to the ink container, converting contamination into a recoverable resource that maintains print quality consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing structures (ink receiving section and guide path) that prevent ink contamination spread before it can affect print quality. The system proactively captures and redirects spilled ink, preventing the harmful effect from manifesting.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ink is contained and directed using guide paths and receiving sections, then ink spillage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ink receiving function and ink redirection function into a unified structure that integrates with the existing ink container and fill vessel. The ink receiving section and guide path form a cohesive system that adds spillage prevention capability without requiring entirely separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multi-functional structures where the ink receiving section and guide path serve multiple purposes: capturing spilled ink, redirecting it back to the container, and preventing contamination spread. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, mitigating the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of preventing ink from spilling out is achieved. An ink tank unit includes: an ink tank 9 that is able to contain ink; an ink filling unit 101 that is provided in a case 61 of the ink tank 9 and has an opening 125 which enables the ink tank 9 to be filled with the ink; and a second case 7 that covers at least a part of a peripheral section of the ink filling unit 101, of a fifth wall 75 of the case 61 on which the ink filling unit 101 is provided. A recessed section 121 and a side wall 145 which enables the ink to be guided to the recessed section 121 are provided on at least one section of the peripheral section of the fifth wall 75 and a section of the second case 7, which faces the peripheral section.