Inkjet Recording Head Cap Guide Mechanism for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges with liquid leakage during transportation due to atmospheric pressure changes and vibration-induced sealing issues, which complicate the attachment and detachment of cap units, potentially damaging the recording heads and affecting sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cap unit with a resin guide and positioning pin system that guides the cap unit's insertion and removal, preventing contact with the recording head and ensuring secure sealing, even during vibrations, using elastic caps that cover the recording heads' lower faces and can be independently lifted and lowered to maintain sealing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap unit is firmly fixed to maintain sealing property during vibration, then sealing reliability is improved, but the attachment and detachment work becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The cap unit is divided into a cap body and a separate fixing member (screw or clip). The fixing member is detached from the cap body during shipping, allowing the cap unit to be easily attached and detached. During operation, the fixing member secures the cap unit to the recording head, maintaining sealing reliability even during vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap unit is pre-configured with a fixing member that can be easily attached or detached. This preliminary preparation allows workers to quickly secure or remove the cap unit without complex procedures, while still ensuring reliable sealing when fixed during operation.
2Reliability
If the cap unit is inserted into the work space, then sealing coverage is improved, but the rear side end portion may contact the recording head and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the cap unit and the recording head. The guide member has a guide groove that directs the cap unit during insertion, ensuring it moves along a predetermined path. This prevents the rear side end portion of the cap unit from directly contacting and damaging the recording head while still achieving proper sealing coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member adds a spatial dimension constraint through its guide groove structure. By defining a specific insertion path in three-dimensional space, the system controls the cap unit's movement trajectory, preventing harmful contact while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If the cap unit is removed to secure work space, then accessibility is improved, but the sealing property may deteriorate during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The cap unit is designed as a separable component that can be easily attached or detached from the recording head. During shipping, the cap unit can be removed to provide work space, and when needed, it can be quickly reattached to restore sealing properties, preventing liquid leakage during transportation.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a housing, a cap unit, a protrusion and a guide part. The recording head has an ink ejecting port on a lower face. The housing supports the recording head. The cap unit includes a cap. The cap unit is inserted into a space below the recording head in a predetermined direction to be attached to the housing and to cover the lower face of the recording head with the cap. The protrusion is protruded from a lower portion of the housing on a rear side in the predetermined direction more downward than the lower face of the recording head. The guide part is formed in an upper portion of the cap unit on the rear side in the predetermined direction and comes into contact with the protrusion so as to guide insertion and removal of the cap unit.