Liquid Container Inclined Bottom Surface for Pigment Precipitation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid containers in recording apparatuses face challenges in thoroughly stirring liquids to prevent precipitation of coloring materials, especially pigments, which leads to uneven image or character recording due to concentration gradients.
Innovation Solution
The liquid container design features a first inclined surface sloping downward and a second inclined surface sloping upward from the mounting surface, facilitating efficient liquid circulation and stirring by directing the supply pipe's liquid outlet downward and air inlet upward, promoting gas-liquid exchange and thorough mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump is used to suck and blow liquid to generate convection for stirring, then liquid circulation is achieved, but the stirring effectiveness is insufficient to prevent complete precipitation of coloring materials
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container's bottom surface is designed with inclined surfaces that enable the liquid to circulate and stir itself using the existing supply and discharge paths, eliminating the need for additional stirring mechanisms while maintaining effective mixing to prevent precipitation
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom surface incorporates curved inclined surfaces that guide liquid flow in a circular pattern, enhancing the stirring effect by creating continuous circulation loops that effectively mix the liquid and prevent settling of coloring materials
2Ease of manufacture
If the supply port is positioned at the first surface, then liquid supply is simplified, but liquid concentration increases at the bottom surface due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined bottom surface creates a curved flow path that directs liquid from the supply port across the bottom surface and back upward, generating continuous circulation that counteracts gravitational settling and maintains uniform liquid composition throughout the container
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 effectively prevents precipitation by ensuring thorough stirring of the liquid, maintaining even concentration and improving the quality of recorded images and characters.
Implementation Method 1
sucking a liquid via a supply pipe from the inside of a liquid container by a pump provided between a liquid ejection head and the liquid container, and blowing again the sucked liquid from the supply pipe into the liquid container. In this manner, convection is generated inside the liquid container and the liquid is stirred.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container mounted on a recording apparatus and containing a liquid in a liquid containing portion, including a first surface which faces the recording apparatus when the liquid container is mounted on the recording apparatus, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the liquid containing portion has, on a bottom surface which is a lower surface in a gravity direction when the liquid container is mounted on the recording apparatus, a first inclined surface inclining downward in the gravity direction from the first surface side to the second surface side and a second inclined surface inclining upward in the gravity direction from the first surface side to the second surface side in this order from the first surface side.