Liquid Container Bag with Spacer and Directing Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible liquid storage bags used in liquid ejection apparatuses tend to shrink, leading to potential blockages and uneven sediment concentration, as sedimentary components settle and accumulate, disrupting fluid flow and supply consistency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design featuring a flexible bag with a spacer member and directing channels that guide liquid towards the outlet, preventing blockages and ensuring even sediment distribution, with the spacer member positioned to maintain flow and the channels directing liquid to the outlet tube, maintaining fluid flow and sediment distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible bag is used for liquid storage, then the liquid can be supplied to the liquid ejection apparatus, but the bag shrinks as liquid is consumed causing channel blockages and uneven sediment concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid storage bag is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, creating separate channels that prevent sediment accumulation in any single location and ensure uniform liquid flow to the ejection apparatus
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension by adding partition walls that extend vertically within the bag, creating a three-dimensional channel structure that prevents sediment settling and maintains consistent liquid flow paths
2Quantity of substance
If the bag volume is increased to provide sufficient liquid capacity, then the liquid storage capacity increases, but sedimentary components are more likely to retain and block channels
Solution Approach 1:
The large bag volume is segmented into multiple smaller compartments by partition walls, which prevents sediment from accumulating in any single large area while maintaining the overall liquid storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bag are created with different flow characteristics through partition walls, ensuring that sediment-prone areas are isolated and that liquid flow is optimized in each compartment to prevent blockages
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid and sedimentary components are kept from remaining in a bag of a liquid container. The liquid container includes a flexible bag in which a liquid storage portion for containing a liquid is provided, a liquid outlet member that is attached to one edge portion of the bag, and has a liquid outlet portion for leading out the liquid to a liquid ejection apparatus, a spacer member arranged in the liquid storage portion, and a liquid outlet tube that constitutes a flow path of liquid extending in the liquid storage portion from the liquid outlet member toward the spacer member. The spacer member is arranged at a position separated from an end portion of the liquid storage portion, and at least one directing channel extending from the end portion side of the liquid storage portion in a direction approaching the spacer member is formed in the liquid storage portion.