Ink Container Tray Agitation Mechanism for Uniform Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in agitating settled ink within ink containers, leading to uneven ink concentration, and require complex configurations or manual shaking, which is time-consuming and risky due to the potential for ink container drops.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with an ink container tray that can be moved between an ink container mounting position and an ink supply position using a guide portion and locking mechanism, allowing for safe and simple agitation of the ink without removing the container, featuring a handle for easy operation and a discharge mechanism for ink leakage detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an agitating mechanism is provided in the ink container, then the ink can be agitated automatically, but the device configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The ink container tray itself serves as the agitating mechanism by utilizing its own movement between mounting position and ink supply position to agitate the ink, eliminating the need for separate agitating mechanisms inside the ink container
Solution Approach 2:
The ink container tray performs multiple functions: holding the ink container, moving the ink container between positions, and agitating the ink through its movement, replacing what would traditionally require separate dedicated components
2Stability of the object's composition
If the user shakes the ink container by hand, then the ink concentration becomes uniform, but it is time-consuming and there is a risk of dropping the ink container
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus performs the agitation function automatically through the automated movement of the ink container tray, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and reducing the time required
3Ease of operation
If the ink container is removed from the printer for shaking, then the user can agitate the ink, but there is a possibility of dropping the ink container during shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The ink container remains in the printer throughout the agitation process, with the tray performing the shaking motion while the container stays securely positioned, eliminating the safety risk of dropping
Solution Approach 2:
The agitation is achieved by moving the ink container tray along the movement direction between two positions within the printer, rather than requiring the container to be removed and shaken in three-dimensional space by the user
4Ease of operation
If the ink container tray moves freely between positions, then the operation is simple, but the connection portion may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism dynamically changes the movability of the ink container tray, allowing free movement for agitation purposes but preventing movement when the tray is in positions that could damage the connection portion
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism prevents the tray from moving to positions that would cause damage to the connection portion, anticipating and preventing potential harm before it can occur
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes an ink container tray which is capable of holding an ink container, a guide portion which guides the ink container tray in a movable manner between an ink container mounting position when mounting the ink container onto the ink container tray and an ink supply position, and a locking mechanism which, when moving the ink container tray, which is positioned further at the ink container mounting position side than a predetermined position between the ink supply position and the ink container mounting position, further to the ink supply position side than the predetermined position, stops the ink container tray from moving further to the ink supply position side than the predetermined position.