Liquid Supply Tube Orientation Change for Compact Inkjet Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejecting apparatus designs that accommodate ink supply tubes increase the size of the apparatus main body and installation area due to the spatial requirements for tube disposition, leading to increased width, height, and depth dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a carriage with a liquid ejecting head, liquid accommodation portions, and liquid supply tubes supported by a tube support portion, where the supply tubes change alignment from horizontal to vertical direction, allowing for reduced horizontal spatial area usage and optimized tube arrangement, including the use of curved wall portions and rib structures for stabilization and fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the liquid supply tubes are disposed in the spatial area between the supporting portion and the opening portion in the apparatus main body, then the liquid supply tubes can be accommodated, but the apparatus main body increases in width, height, and depth dimension and the size of the apparatus main body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the alignment direction of the liquid supply tubes from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. This dimensional change allows the tubes to extend in the vertical direction rather than occupying horizontal space within the apparatus main body, thereby reducing the width, height, and depth dimensions of the apparatus main body while still accommodating the liquid supply tubes.
2Area of stationary object
If the spatial area is provided in the portion between the lateral surface of the apparatus main body and the tank unit to allow the liquid supply tubes to be disposed therein, then the liquid supply tubes can be accommodated, but the installation area of both the apparatus main body and the tank unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the liquid supply tubes to extend in the vertical direction rather than horizontally. This allows the tubes to be accommodated within the vertical space between the lateral surface of the apparatus main body and the tank unit without requiring additional horizontal installation area, thus reducing the overall installation footprint.
3Ease of operation
If the liquid supply tubes extend further to the liquid accommodation portion side than the supporting portion, then the tubes can reach the ink tanks, but the horizontal spatial area required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the liquid supply tubes from horizontal to vertical alignment. This allows the tubes to extend further to the liquid accommodation portion side while occupying vertical space rather than horizontal space, thereby maintaining connectivity functionality while reducing the horizontal spatial area requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage which reciprocates in a state where a liquid ejecting head is mounted thereon, a tank unit which is provided outside the carriage and accommodates ink, four liquid supply tubes which communicate with the liquid ejecting head and the tank unit, and a tube support portion which supports the liquid supply tubes in a state where the liquid supply tubes are aligned in a horizontal direction, in which, in a case main body, the liquid supply tubes extend further to the tank unit side than a portion in which the liquid supply tubes are supported by the tube support portion, in a state where a parallel alignment direction of the four liquid supply tubes changes from the horizontal direction (a transporting direction) to a vertical direction.