Liquid Absorber With Segmented Flame Retardant Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid absorbers for ink jet printers face issues with maintaining flame retardancy and absorption performance over time due to the reaction of flame retardants with deteriorated ink, leading to aggregation and decreased absorption efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A liquid absorber design featuring a structure with a first and second base material containing flame-retardant filament nonwoven fabric, where the flame retardant content in the absorption layer is less than 10% by mass, separating the flame-retardant components from the absorption layer to prevent long-term contact and aggregation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flame retardant is added to the liquid absorber to ensure flame retardancy, then flame retardancy is improved, but the flame retardant reacts with deteriorated ink causing aggregation and absorption performance deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidabsorption performance duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid absorber is divided into multiple functional layers: a first base material layer containing flame-retardant filament nonwoven fabric for flame retardancy, and a second base material layer with low flame retardant content for liquid absorption. This segmentation separates the flame retardant function from the absorption function, preventing interaction between flame retardant and ink while maintaining both properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the liquid absorber are assigned different flame retardant concentrations. The first base material layer has high flame retardant content (5-20% by mass) to ensure flame retardancy, while the second base material layer has low flame retardant content (<10% by mass) to prevent aggregation with ink. This local differentiation optimizes both flame safety and absorption performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the flame retardant content in the absorption layer is reduced to prevent aggregation, then absorption performance is maintained, but flame retardancy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorption performance durationVSAvoidflame retardancy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid absorber uses a composite structure combining flame-retardant filament nonwoven fabric in the first base material layer with the second base material layer having low flame retardant content. This composite design ensures that the overall system maintains flame retardancy through the first layer while the second layer provides stable absorption performance without aggregation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 stable and effective liquid absorption over time, preventing aggregation and maintaining flame retardancy, even when used infrequently or with small liquid volumes, by isolating the flame-retardant components from the absorption layer.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid absorber that absorbs the waste ink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

a first base material; a second base material; and an absorption layer provided between the first base material and the second base material, in which the first base material and the second base material both contain a flame-retardant filament nonwoven fabric

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS11975542B2Liquid absorber and printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid absorber of the present disclosure includes: a first base material; a second base material; and an absorption layer provided between the first base material and the second base material, in which the first base material and the second base material both contain a flame-retardant filament nonwoven fabric, and a content of a flame retardant in the absorption layer is less than 10% by mass.