Ink Tank Gas-Liquid Membrane Positioning for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ink tanks face issues with ink leakage when tilted due to clogging of gas-liquid separating membranes, leading to pressure imbalances and potential ink leakage through the ink outflow port, necessitating a solution to minimize ink adhesion to these membranes and reduce leakage amounts.
Innovation Solution
The tank design includes a configuration where the gas-liquid separating membrane is positioned above the maximum liquid surface in the usable posture, and the liquid outflow port is strategically located to prevent ink flow when the tank is tilted, ensuring minimal ink leakage by maintaining the membrane's dryness and controlling fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas-liquid separating membrane is provided in the atmosphere channel to prevent ink leakage when tilted, then ink leakage is prevented, but the membrane may be wetted and clogged by ink, causing pressure imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gas-liquid separating membrane from the atmosphere channel and replaces it with a simple open port. This extraction eliminates the membrane clogging problem while maintaining the function of pressure equalization and preventing ink leakage through alternative means (the open port design and tank geometry)
Solution Approach 2:
The atmosphere channel is segmented into an upper portion and a lower portion, with the open port positioned in the upper portion. This segmentation allows gas to pass through while preventing liquid from reaching the port, achieving separation without a physical membrane
2Ease of operation
If the tank is tilted during transport or repair, then accessibility is improved, but ink may leak from the tank via the outflow port
Solution Approach 1:
The outflow port is preliminarily positioned in the lower portion of the tank and configured to prevent backward flow. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the effect of tilting, ensuring that even when the tank is tilted during transport or repair, ink cannot flow backward out of the port
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 adhesion of ink to the gas-liquid separating membrane and minimizes ink leakage, maintaining pressure balance and preventing ink loss when the tank is tilted.
Implementation Method 1
a semipermeable membrane is provided in an atmosphere channel from the inside of the tank and up to the atmosphere open port... a gas-liquid separating membrane which allows a gas to pass therethrough but does not allow a liquid to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 2
a liquid outflow port via which the liquid stored in the first and second chambers is allowed to flow out of the first and second chambers and toward the liquid consuming section
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a tank including: first and second chambers; a liquid inlet port; a first communicating port; a communicating channel; a second communicating port; an atmosphere open port; a gas-liquid separating membrane provided in the communicating channel; and a liquid outflow port. In a state that a first wall constructing a first end of the tank in a usable posture constructs an upper portion of the tank and that a second wall constructing a second end, of the tank in the usable posture, which is away in a horizontal direction from the first end constructs a lower portion of the tank and under a condition that a maximum amount, of the liquid, storable in the tank in the usable posture, is stored in the first and second chambers, the gas-liquid separating membrane is located at a position above the liquid surface of the maximum amount of the liquid.