Inkjet Printing Apparatus Ink Storage Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses with refillable ink storage members face issues with moisture evaporation, leading to changes in ink density and print quality, especially when the ink is left unused for extended periods, affecting the darkness and color tone of printed images.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first ink storage member without a refilling port, acting as an ink cartridge, and a second ink storage member with a refilling port, allowing for frequent ink replenishment of frequently used inks like black, while minimizing evaporation risks for less frequently used colors like cyan, magenta, and yellow by eliminating refilling ports and optimizing storage configurations to reduce moisture loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a refilling port is provided in the ink storage member to enable frequent ink replenishment, then usability is improved, but moisture evaporation occurs leading to changes in ink density and print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The ink storage member is divided into two distinct parts: a first ink storage member without a refilling port for storing ink that should not evaporate, and a second ink storage member with a refilling port for frequent replenishment. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both frequent refilling capability and evaporation prevention for different ink types.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the ink storage system are given different properties: the first ink storage member has a sealed structure without a refilling port to prevent evaporation, while the second ink storage member has a refilling port structure to enable frequent replenishment. Each part is optimized for its specific function.
2Productivity
If the ink storage member capacity is increased to reduce refilling frequency, then productivity is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large ink storage member, the system segments the storage into multiple smaller members (first and second ink storage members). This maintains the refilling frequency benefits of smaller containers while organizing the complexity into manageable, functionally-differentiated units.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than making one storage member larger to reduce refilling frequency, the invention inverts the approach by using multiple smaller storage members with different functions. The first member is optimized for stability (no refilling port), while the second member handles frequent refilling, thus achieving productivity improvement without excessive size or complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An inkjet printing apparatus includes a discharge head arranged to discharge ink, and a housing arranged to contain the discharge head, wherein the housing contains a first ink storage member and a second ink storage member each arranged to store ink, for supply from each of the first ink storage member and the second ink storage member to the discharge head, wherein the second ink storage member has an ink refilling port for enabling ink refilling by opening a stopper member, and wherein the first ink storage member is an ink cartridge not having an ink refilling port, and is detachable from the inkjet printing apparatus.