Liquid Container Interference Limits Simultaneous Refilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid supply systems for inkjet printers and similar devices, simultaneously refilling multiple tanks with liquid containers can cause carriage deformation and incorrect handling, leading to printing quality issues and potential ink spills due to the weight and alignment challenges of multiple containers.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply system design where the liquid containers are positioned such that their filling postures interfere with each other, limiting the number that can be simultaneously coupled to the carriage, thereby preventing carriage deformation and reducing the risk of incorrect handling and spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple liquid containers are simultaneously coupled to refill multiple tanks, then refilling efficiency is improved, but carriage deformation and alignment instability occur due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the liquid container with a specific weight distribution and geometry that creates a restoring moment to counteract carriage deformation before it occurs. The container's shape and weight arrangement are pre-configured to automatically correct alignment shifts during the refilling process, preventing carriage deformation rather than reacting to it after occurrence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the liquid container, specifically its weight distribution and geometric dimensions, to optimize the balance between refilling efficiency and carriage stability. By adjusting these parameters, the system can accommodate multiple containers while maintaining carriage alignment through optimized weight distribution that prevents deformation.
2Productivity
If multiple liquid containers are simultaneously coupled to refill multiple tanks, then refilling efficiency is improved, but the risk of erroneous handling and ink spills increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing each liquid container with specific local characteristics including unique weight distribution patterns and geometric features that provide tactile feedback and visual identification. These localized quality variations help users correctly identify and handle the appropriate container for each tank, reducing erroneous handling and spills while maintaining efficient multi-container refilling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the carriage is designed to support multiple tanks, then system versatility is improved, but the complexity of ensuring proper alignment and preventing deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the liquid container to automatically perform alignment and stabilization functions during refilling. The container's weight distribution and geometric design enable it to self-correct carriage position and maintain proper alignment without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms or active control systems, thus supporting multi-tank versatility while avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid supply system includes a carriage, a plurality of tanks mounted on the carriage, and a plurality of liquid containers for filling a corresponding tank of the plurality of tanks with liquid. The plurality of tanks include a first tank and a second tank in which liquid receiving sections are arranged adjacent to each other in an arrangement direction in the carriage, the plurality of liquid containers include a first liquid container for filling the first tank with the liquid and a second liquid container for filling the second tank with the liquid, and the first liquid container has a portion that, when the first liquid container is set to a first tank filling posture, interferes with a disposition region of the second liquid container when the second liquid container is set to a second tank filling posture.