Inclined Liquid Container Bottom Plate for Ink Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In large capacity liquid cartridges for image forming apparatuses, unconsumed liquid remains due to difficulties in placing the ink guiding tube and uniform deformation of the ink bag, leading to inefficiencies in liquid supply and consumption.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design featuring a flexible ink bag with a guiding tube and a supporting member that can be inclined, ensuring the guiding tube's end touches the bottom surface, allowing for efficient ink extraction and minimizing remaining liquid by adjusting the ink bag's shape as ink is consumed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ink guiding tube is placed to reach the bottom surface of the liquid containing member, then liquid supply efficiency is improved, but the guiding tube becomes long and difficult to place uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of the liquid containing member is made movable relative to the housing through a supporting member that can be inclined by an inclination adding unit. This dynamic adjustment allows the guiding tube to maintain optimal contact with the bottom surface throughout the liquid consumption process, eliminating the need for a excessively long rigid tube while ensuring complete liquid extraction.
2Productivity
If the ink bag is deformed to extract liquid, then liquid extraction is improved, but uniform deformation is difficult to achieve due to complicated shape around edge lines
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member can be inclined to change the orientation of the liquid containing member relative to the housing. This dynamic repositioning ensures that the guiding tube consistently contacts the bottom surface at the optimal location, enabling uniform liquid extraction without being affected by the complicated edge line geometry of the ink bag.
3Reliability
If the liquid supply outlet is placed in the upper part of the cartridge, then liquid leakage is prevented, but unconsumed liquid remains due to difficulty in placing the guiding tube snaking through all areas
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member with inclination capability allows the liquid containing member to be repositioned dynamically. This ensures that the guiding tube can reach the bottom surface effectively while the liquid supply outlet remains in the upper safe zone, preventing both leakage and unconsumed liquid accumulation simultaneously.
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 design significantly reduces unconsumed liquid by ensuring all ink is pumped out, minimizing waste and optimizing liquid supply efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a supporting member that supports the bottom of the liquid containing member is further included, the supporting member is configured in such a way that it can be moved with respect to the housing, and the supporting member is moved to an inclining state by an inclination adding unit
Implementation Method 2
The other end of the guiding tube member is placed close to or touching the bottom surface of the liquid containing member
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid cartridge includes an ink bag for storing liquid and being capable of changing its shape, a housing for storing the ink bag, a guiding tube member for being placed in the ink bag, and a liquid supply outlet for providing the liquid to outside the ink bag and being connected to an end of the guiding tube member. Another end of the guiding tube member is placed close to or touching a bottom of the ink bag. The liquid cartridge further includes a bottom plate for supporting the bottom of the ink bag. The bottom plate is configured to be moved with respect to the housing. As remaining ink in the ink bag decreases, the bottom plate is moved to be in an inclining state by an inclination adding member that is placed in a cartridge installing unit of an apparatus.