On-Carriage Ink Tank Level Visibility Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers lack a convenient method for users to check the ink level in on-carriage ink tanks from the outside, making it difficult to determine when refilling is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a refillable ink tank on a movable carriage featuring a transparent level checking portion and viewing ports in the carriage and housing, allowing users to easily view the ink level without opening the device, and incorporating a design that prevents ink mist deposition and dust entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ink tank is made transparent to allow external viewing of ink level, then the ease of viewing ink level is improved, but the structural complexity of the ink tank increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink tank is divided into two distinct portions: a transparent level checking portion for viewing ink levels and an opaque storage portion for holding ink. This segmentation allows the tank to provide external visibility without requiring the entire tank structure to be transparent, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of viewing and structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If viewing ports are added to the carriage and housing, then the ease of viewing ink level from outside is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The viewing function is merged across multiple components: the transparent ink tank portion, the carriage viewing port, and the housing viewing port work together as an integrated viewing system. This allows users to view ink levels from the exterior without adding complex individual components to any single part.
3Ease of operation
If the ink tank is positioned above the recording unit on the carriage, then the eye level of the user is raised improving visibility, but the space arrangement on the carriage becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ink tank is positioned vertically above the recording unit in the height dimension rather than horizontally adjacent to it. This vertical arrangement in another dimension allows the transparent portion to be at eye level for better visibility while maintaining efficient horizontal space utilization on the carriage.
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
Enables easy and quick monitoring of ink levels from the outside, improving user convenience and reducing maintenance complications by providing clear visibility of the ink level without requiring the carriage to be moved or the device to be opened, while also preventing ink mist accumulation and dust entry.
Implementation Method 1
a level checking portion formed of a transparent material through which the liquid level in the liquid container can be viewed
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes: a recording head that performs recording; a carriage that has a recording head on the bottom and is movable in a width direction intersecting a medium transport direction; at least one ink tank loaded on the carriage, above the recording head, the ink tank storing ink to be supplied to the recording head and having a filling port from which ink can be poured from a refilling container. The ink tank has, at least in one portion thereof, a level checking portion formed of a transparent material through which the liquid level in the liquid container can be viewed. The carriage has a first viewing portion through which the level checking portion of the ink tank can be viewed.