Ink Tank Vertical Flow Stirring for Pigment Settling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink tanks with pigment ink face challenges in maintaining uniform pigment concentration due to gravitational settling, leading to color differences and unevenness in printed images, and existing stirring methods are inefficient and increase the size and cost of the printing apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design with a first and second channel positioned misaligned in the direction of gravitational force, allowing a communication path for efficient vertical flow to stir the ink, independent of the tank's shape or orientation, and utilizing a pump chamber with a volume varying section and valve to regulate the flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a buffer chamber is provided in the ink supply path to stir pigment ink, then pigment particles can be dispersed, but the stirring performance depends on the shape or configuration of the ink tank or mounted orientation, which precludes efficient stirring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the ink flow path by positioning the first opening at the bottom and the second opening at the top of the ink containing chamber, with the communication path extending vertically outside the chamber. This vertical configuration ensures that ink flows upward against gravity, creating effective stirring motion regardless of the tank's overall shape or mounting orientation, thereby resolving the dependency on tank configuration.
2Length of stationary object
If the ink containing chamber extends a long distance along the direction of gravitational force, then sufficient stirring performance cannot be provided when the volume of the buffer chamber decreases at a low speed
Solution Approach 1:
The communication path acts as an intermediary channel that connects the bottom opening to the top opening outside the ink containing chamber. This external communication path allows ink to be transported vertically without being constrained by the internal geometry or length of the ink containing chamber, enabling efficient stirring even when the chamber extends a long distance vertically.
3Ease of operation
If the opening is formed in the side surface of the ink containing chamber, then ink flows horizontally, but this fails to act positively on ink with different pigment concentrations and achieves stirring at a lower level
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming the opening in the side surface of the ink containing chamber (horizontal orientation), the patent inverts the approach by positioning the first opening at the bottom and the second opening at the top, with the communication path extending vertically outside the chamber. This inversion creates vertical ink flow that effectively mixes ink of different concentrations by moving it against gravity, significantly improving pigment distribution effectiveness.
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 design efficiently stirs the ink by drawing high-concentration ink from the bottom and distributing it to the top, ensuring uniform pigment distribution without increasing the tank's size or cost, thus improving color stability and reproducibility in printed images.
Implementation Method 1
a first opening which opens into the liquid containing chamber and through which liquid can be drawn in; a second opening which opens into the liquid containing chamber and through which liquid can be squirted, the second opening being positioned above the first opening in a direction of gravitational force
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container enables a liquid contained in a liquid containing chamber to be supplied to an exterior through a supply port. The liquid container includes a first channel, a second channel, and a communication path. The first channel is in communication with a first opening which opens into the liquid containing chamber. The second channel is in communication with a second opening which opens into the liquid containing chamber, the second opening being positioned above the first opening in a direction of gravitational force. The communication path allows the first channel and the second channel to communicate with each other outside the liquid containing chamber to permit a flow of the liquid.