Liquid Container Gas Management via Hydrogen Permeation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid containers used in inkjet printers often deform or break due to gas generated by chemical changes within the ink, either because they lack air introduction ports or have mechanisms that do not effectively discharge the gas.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design with a containing chamber, a circulation port, and a valve that allows for efficient discharge of gas, featuring a member with a specific hydrogen penetration rate to prevent deformation and breakage, and optionally including a decompression chamber, hydrogen absorption substance, and buffer chamber for enhanced gas management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a sealing structure without air introduction port is used (like ink pack), then the structure is simpler, but the container deforms or breaks due to gas accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful gas from the containing chamber through a discharge port, separating the gas removal function from the sealing structure. This allows the container to maintain simplicity while preventing gas accumulation damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of gas generation into a beneficial pressure differential that drives gas discharge. The gas accumulation creates positive pressure that automatically opens the discharge port, transforming the harmful gas into a useful discharge mechanism.
2Reliability
If air introduction port is added (like ink cartridge), then the internal pressure can be maintained, but the gas discharge function is still insufficient causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port is designed with dynamic opening and closing characteristics. It remains closed during normal operation to maintain sealing, but automatically opens when gas pressure exceeds a certain threshold, providing adaptive pressure control without compromising integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter dynamically - maintaining negative or zero pressure during ink consumption, and allowing positive pressure buildup to trigger gas discharge. This parameter variation enables both pressure control and gas removal functions.
3Reliability
If the container is sealed to prevent contamination, then the liquid quality is maintained, but gas generated by chemical changes cannot escape causing breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port acts as an intermediary element between the sealed containing chamber and the external environment. It provides a controlled interface that allows gas egress while maintaining overall sealing integrity, preventing both contamination and gas accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge port is pre-positioned and pre-configured to open at specific pressure thresholds. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when gas generation occurs, the discharge mechanism is already in place to handle the pressure buildup, preventing breakage before it occurs.
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
The design effectively prevents deformation and breakage of the liquid container by efficiently discharging generated gas, ensuring the container's integrity and stability during use.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrogen penetration amount of a member partitioning the containing chamber is 0.0001 ml/cm2·day·atm or more and 0.01 ml/cm2·day·atm or lower per day
Implementation Method 2
a valve provided in such a manner as to connect the containing chamber to the outside thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container according to an aspect of this invention has a containing chamber in which a liquid which temporarily generates gas by a chemical change of contained components is contained, a circulation port which communicates with the containing chamber and circulates the liquid, and a valve provided in such a manner as to connect the containing chamber to the outside thereof, in which the hydrogen penetration amount of a member partitioning the containing chamber is 0.0001 ml/cm2·day·atm or more and 0.01 ml/cm2·day·atm or lower per day and at least one kind of the contained components can be a base metal pigment.