Liquid Container Outlet Unit With Tool-Operated On-Off Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid containers for printing apparatuses face challenges in reliably opening and closing valve elements during liquid filling, leading to instability and potential leaks.

Innovation Solution

A liquid container design featuring a bag body with an outlet unit that includes a supply channel with a check valve and a bypass channel with an on-off valve. The on-off valve is configured to be manually operated by a tool to switch between open and closed positions, ensuring stable liquid circulation and filling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an on-off valve is disposed in the bypass channel unit to permit liquid delivery during re-filling, then the liquid container can be re-filled through the bypass channel, but the valve element may open and close unintentionally when a magnet is brought near, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvere-fill capabilityVSAvoidvalve operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the magnetic field-based valve operation with a mechanical operation system. A tool inserted through the outlet unit mechanically moves the valve element between open and closed positions, eliminating the reliability issues caused by unintended magnetic field interactions while maintaining the re-fill capability through the bypass channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the bypass channel is closed by thermal welding to prevent leakage, then liquid delivery control is improved, but the liquid container cannot be re-filled through the bypass channel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid delivery controlVSAvoidre-fill capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bypass channel into two functional sections: a sealed section (thermally welded to prevent leakage) and a controllable section (equipped with the on-off valve for controlled opening during re-fill operations). This segmentation allows the system to maintain both liquid delivery control and re-fill capability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The on-off valve acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the sealed bypass channel structure and the re-fill requirement. It provides a controlled opening mechanism that allows liquid flow only when intentionally activated by a tool, bridging the contradiction between sealing integrity and re-fill accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a check valve is disposed in the supply channel unit to permit unidirectional liquid delivery, then liquid flow control is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid flow direction controlVSAvoidvalve mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve in the supply channel unit operates automatically based on liquid flow direction, requiring no external control mechanism. It self-activates to permit flow from the bag to the printing apparatus while blocking reverse flow, providing reliable unidirectional control without adding complex actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 allows for stable opening and closing of the valve element, preventing leaks and ensuring reliable liquid circulation and filling, thereby maintaining the quality and consistency of the printing process.

Implementation Method 1

a check valve is disposed which permits the liquid to be delivered to the printing apparatus from the bag body and does not permit the liquid to be delivered to the bag body from the printing apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an on-off valve is disposed which is configured to be movable to a first position and a second position, the first position being a position at which the on-off valve closes the bypass channel unit to not permit the liquid to be delivered, the second position being a position at which the on-off valve opens the bypass channel unit to permit the liquid to be delivered

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250026131A1Liquid container, printing apparatus, liquid container manufacturing apparatus, and liquid container manufacturing method

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 CANON KK

AI summary

A liquid container includes a bag body and an outlet unit. The outlet unit has a supply channel unit and a bypass channel unit. In the supply channel unit, a check valve is disposed which permits a liquid to be delivered to a printing apparatus from the bag body and does not permit the liquid to be delivered to the bag body from the printing apparatus. In the bypass channel unit, an on-off valve is disposed which is movable to a first position where the valve closes the bypass channel unit to not permit the liquid to be delivered and to a second position where the valve opens the bypass channel unit to permit the liquid to be delivered. The valve is freely moved between the first and second positions by being operated by a tool from outside the container to switch opening and closing of the bypass channel unit.