Ink-jet Auxiliary Reservoir Filter Design for Bubble Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printers face issues with filter clogging due to air bubbles in the auxiliary reservoir, leading to unintended ink ejection during purging operations, as the existing designs do not adequately address the risk of air bubble adhesion and pressure buildup.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an auxiliary reservoir with both upstream and downstream chambers open to the atmosphere, featuring a partition with a filter section that allows air bubbles to escape, reducing the likelihood of filter clogging and pressure rise during purging, thereby preventing unintended ink ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the auxiliary reservoir is divided into two ink chambers by a filter with only the second chamber open to the atmosphere, then foreign matters are filtered from the ink, but air bubbles accumulate in the first chamber and clog the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary reservoir is divided into two separate ink chambers (first and second chambers) by a partition wall with a filter. This segmentation allows independent atmospheric opening configuration for each chamber, enabling the first chamber to be opened to atmosphere while the second chamber remains closed, thus preventing air bubble accumulation and filter clogging while maintaining filtration function.
2Reliability
If the filter section is positioned to contact ink in both chambers, then foreign matters are filtered, but air bubbles adhere to the filter and cause pressure rise
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is designed with asymmetric filter positioning where the filter section contacts ink only in the second (closed) chamber, not in the first (open) chamber. This local quality differentiation ensures that the filter processes filtered ink without being exposed to air bubbles in the open chamber, preventing filter clogging and pressure rise while maintaining effective filtration.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the first ink chamber is not open to the atmosphere, then the filter is protected from air bubbles, but pressure builds up during purging operation causing unintended ink ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary reservoir is segmented into two chambers with different atmospheric opening configurations. The first chamber is opened to atmosphere to allow pressure equalization and prevent unintended ink ejection during purging, while the second chamber remains closed to protect the filter from air bubble exposure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between preventing air bubble adhesion and avoiding pressure buildup.
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 effectively reduces the risk of filter clogging and subsequent ink ejection issues by allowing air bubbles to escape, maintaining stable ink pressure and preventing nozzle clogging, ensuring reliable operation during purging.
Implementation Method 1
a partition portion dividing an internal space of the auxiliary reservoir into the upstream and downstream chambers, and having a filter section at least partially contacting the ink in the upstream and downstream chambers
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus including a recording head for ejecting an ink, an auxiliary reservoir having an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber both open to the atmosphere and configured to store the ink, a first supply passage for supplying the ink from the downstream chamber of the auxiliary reservoir to the recording head, a return passage for returning the ink from the recording head to the upstream chamber of the auxiliary reservoir, and a partition portion which divides an internal space of the auxiliary reservoir into the upstream and downstream chambers and which has a filter section at least partially contacting the ink in the upstream and downstream chambers.