Inkjet Cartridge Valve Opening Sequence Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing inkjet recording apparatuses face instability in controlling the opening order of ink passages due to changes in urging forces of the members, affecting the reliable attachment and ink supply process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a recording head, an ink cartridge with a movable valve and urging member, and a cartridge-attachment portion with a separate ink supply member and valve, where the ink supply member is inserted into the cartridge to open the valves in a specific order, ensuring stable communication between the ink chamber and passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the opening order of ink passages is controlled based on the urging forces of urging members, then the valve bodies can be pushed to open the ink passage and ink inlet, but the control becomes unstable when the urging forces change due to aging degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the physical structure of the ink supply member and ink cartridge to determine the opening sequence. The ink supply member is designed to be inserted first, which automatically opens the ink inlet before the ink cartridge is fully inserted to open the ink passage. This structural arrangement ensures the opening order is determined by the sequence of physical insertion rather than by urging forces that may degrade over time.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the valve body of the ink supplying tube opens the ink inlet first, then ink leakage can be prevented, but the control mechanism becomes complex with multiple urging members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control function from the urging members and transfers it to the physical structure and insertion sequence of the ink supply member and ink cartridge. Instead of relying on multiple urging members to control the opening order, the design uses the inherent sequence of insertion (ink supply member first, then ink cartridge) to automatically determine which valve opens first. This simplifies the mechanism by removing the need for complex urging force coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by allowing the insertion action itself to automatically control the opening sequence of the valves. As the user inserts the ink supply member and then the ink cartridge, the physical interaction between these components and the valve bodies automatically opens the ink inlet before the ink passage, without requiring external control mechanisms or coordination of multiple urging members.
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 ensures reliable and stable ink supply to the recording head by controlling the opening order of the ink passages, preventing ink leakage and air mixing, and maintaining consistent ink flow during attachment and operation.
Implementation Method 1
The first urging member urges the first valve from the second position toward the first position
Implementation Method 2
The second urging member urges the second valve from the fourth position toward the third position
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a cartridge-attachment portion and an ink cartridge attachable thereto. The ink cartridge includes: a main body formed with an opening; an ink chamber disposed in the main body; a first valve opening and closing the opening; and a first pressing surface. The cartridge-attachment portion includes: an ink supply member providing an ink passage formed with an inlet; a second valve opening and closing the inlet; and a second pressing surface. In the attachment process, the ink supply member enters the ink chamber through the opening, the first pressing surface moves the second valve to a position opening the inlet, and the second pressing surface moves the first valve to a position opening the opening. In an attached state, the inlet is opened and positioned in the ink chamber, and the ink passage is in communication with the ink chamber through the inlet.