Liquid Container Detection Member Positioning for Foreign Substance Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid containers in liquid ejecting apparatuses face issues with foreign substances attaching to detection members, leading to inaccurate detection of remaining liquid amounts and potential misalignment, which can result in irregularities like air shots due to improper posture and positional deviations during mounting.
Innovation Solution
The liquid container design features a flat bottom surface with a liquid outlet close to one end and an input receiving unit on the opposite end, along with a protrusion to maintain proper posture, and uses a triangular prism detection member to prevent foreign substance attachment and ensure accurate detection without contact, thereby maintaining the liquid supply and preventing inclination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the detection member (prism) is positioned to detect remaining liquid amount, then detection accuracy is improved, but foreign substances attach to the detection member blocking light and causing detection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The light transmission surface of the prism is extracted from the bottom surface of the liquid container, positioning it on the side surface instead. This separation removes the detection surface from the area where foreign substances accumulate near the liquid outlet, preventing attachment while maintaining detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The prism serves as an intermediary optical element that detects liquid levels through light refraction without direct contact between the detection surface and liquid. The light transmission surface acts as a mediator that interacts with liquid via optical properties rather than physical contact, avoiding foreign substance accumulation.
2Ease of operation
If the liquid container is mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus, then liquid supply function is achieved, but vibration and external force cause inclination from proper posture leading to detection errors and air shots
Solution Approach 1:
An asymmetric protrusion is added to the bottom surface of the liquid container at a specific position. This asymmetric feature creates a unique fitting relationship with the liquid ejecting apparatus, preventing rotation and inclination while maintaining proper mounting. The asymmetric design ensures the container maintains its correct posture during operation.
3Reliability
If the prism detection member is used to detect remaining liquid amount, then non-contact detection is achieved, but positional deviation during mounting reduces detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The prism detection member is integrated directly into the bottom surface structure of the liquid container, merging the detection function with the container body. This integration ensures fixed positional relationship between the prism and container, eliminating positional deviation during mounting while maintaining non-contact detection capability.
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 effectively suppresses foreign substance attachment to detection members, ensures accurate detection of remaining liquid amounts, and stabilizes the liquid container's posture, preventing irregularities like air shots and ensuring consistent liquid supply.
Implementation Method 1
light which enters an incident surface of the prism from the light emitting element to, and is transmitted into the liquid container
Implementation Method 2
the light of the light emitting element which enters the incident surface of the prism is reflected by a boundary surface between the prism and air in the liquid container
Data Source
AI summary
In the liquid container which includes the detection member having a liquid outlet, a contact portion, and an input receiving unit, the liquid outlet and the input receiving unit of the detection member are provided at a position apart from each other on the same bottom surface, and the contact portion is provided in the opposite side to the side where the input receiving unit is provided. It is possible to suppress foreign substances from becoming attached to the input section by providing the input receiving unit at the position apart from the any one of the liquid outlet and the contact portion since the liquid outlet and the contact portion have a section where foreign substances (liquid and chips) are easily generated.