Liquid-Consuming Apparatus Cap Holder Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of liquid-consuming apparatuses, such as printers, face issues with ink spills and cap loss when refilling ink, leading to potential ink evaporation, dust entry, and leakage due to unclosed inlets.
Innovation Solution
A design that includes a holder to securely store the cap when it is removed from the inlet, preventing the cap from being accidentally closed and ensuring the inlet remains covered, thus preventing ink spills and cap loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cap is removed from the inlet to replenish liquid, then the liquid can be poured into the tank, but the cap may be lost or dirty the placement surface
Solution Approach 1:
The holder acts as an intermediary component between the cap and the placement surface. When the cap is removed from the inlet, it is immediately placed into the holder which is integrated with the tank structure, preventing the cap from being lost or contaminating the placement surface. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing a dedicated storage location for the cap during the liquid replenishment process.
2Ease of operation
If the inlet is left open after replenishment, then the tank remains accessible, but ink evaporation, dust entry, and leakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is pre-positioned on the tank structure before the cap removal process begins. After liquid replenishment is complete, the user can immediately replace the cap into the holder without needing to search for it or manually close the inlet. This preliminary preparation of the holder structure ensures that the inlet is promptly sealed, preventing ink evaporation, dust entry, and leakage while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the cap is held separately during cover movement, then the cap can be accessed, but the cover cannot be properly closed
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is merged with the tank structure as an integrated component, positioned such that when the cover is in the closed position, the holder is accessible to the user. This allows the cap to be held securely in the holder while the cover remains properly closed. The integration of the holder with the tank structure resolves the contradiction by combining cap storage functionality with the existing cover mechanism, ensuring both cap accessibility and proper cover closure.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.