Liquid Container Grip and Longitudinal Supply Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid consumption apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, face difficulties in attaching flexible ink bags due to their flexible nature, which reduces operability and requires larger attachment spaces, and there is a need for cost reduction, resource saving, and improved usability.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design with a gripable operation part connected to the liquid container part, where the liquid supply opening faces the longitudinal direction of one end portion, allowing easy attachment and detachment, and a container-side engagement part for support, reducing the attachment operation space and improving usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a flexible liquid container is used, then the container can be compact and adaptable, but the operability deteriorates because the shape changes when gripped for attachment/detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container is divided into two functional parts: a flexible liquid storage bag for compactness and a rigid operation part with grip portions for stable handling. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its properties without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation part acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the flexible liquid bag. By providing a rigid structure with grip portions, it mediates the interaction to prevent direct hand contact with the flexible bag, thereby maintaining bag shape stability during attachment/detachment operations.
2Area of stationary object
If the liquid supply opening faces the longitudinal direction of the container, then the attachment operation space is reduced, but the connection alignment becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The operation part with its rigid structure and grip portions performs preliminary positioning and alignment guidance before the actual connection. This preliminary action reduces the criticality of precise alignment by providing mechanical guidance during the attachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid supply opening is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the container, changing the connection dimension from lateral to longitudinal. This dimensional change reduces the attachment operation space required in the lateral direction while the operation part provides alignment guidance to manage the increased alignment criticality.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple liquid containers are arranged in the printer, then the liquid supply capacity is increased, but the attachment operation space in the lateral direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each liquid container is segmented into a flexible storage bag and a rigid operation part. This segmentation allows multiple containers to be arranged compactly while maintaining individual operability, reducing the lateral space required for attachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
By orienting the liquid supply opening in the longitudinal direction and providing grip portions that extend in specific directions, the attachment operation is shifted to utilize longitudinal space rather than lateral space, enabling more efficient arrangement of multiple containers.
4Ease of operation
If the operation part is made rigid for stable handling, then the operability is improved, but the overall container complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into a flexible liquid storage bag and a simplified rigid operation part. The operation part contains only essential elements (grip portions and connection structure) without complex mechanisms, achieving good operability while maintaining configuration simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation part is designed to be self-sufficient for its function of providing stable handling and connection, without requiring additional complex mechanisms or external assistance. The rigid structure with grip portions inherently provides the necessary operability.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container that supplies a liquid to a liquid consumption apparatus via a liquid introduction part disposed in the liquid consumption apparatus. The liquid container includes: a liquid container part that stores the liquid; a liquid supply part that is in communication with an inside of the liquid container part, that has a liquid supply opening facing in a first direction, and that the liquid introduction part is to be connected to, the first direction being a longitudinal direction of one end portion of the liquid container part; and an operation part that is connected to the liquid container part and that has a grip part that is grippable.