Liquid Container Refill Inlet and Bubble Trap Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid refill techniques for containers used in liquid ejection devices, such as ink cartridges and metal-containing liquid containers, face inefficiencies and damage risks due to air migration issues, particularly with complex internal structures and sensors, leading to false detection and printer troubles.
Innovation Solution
A remanufacturing method that includes a liquid feeder, sensor unit, bubble trap module, and a configuration allowing external liquid injection through a specifically formed inlet, which is sealed after injection, along with a connection flow path and air open structure to manage bubbles and air pressure, ensuring efficient refilling without damaging the container's functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a through hole is drilled in the outer wall surface of the ink cartridge for ink refill, then ink can be refilled into the ink reservoir assembly, but air remaining in the ink cartridge migrates into the sensor unit causing false detection and printer troubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function (air migration path) from the system by positioning the inlet at a specific location that prevents air from reaching the sensor unit during refill operations, while still allowing ink to be refilled into the ink reservoir assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bubble trap module as an intermediary component between the inlet and the sensor unit, which captures air bubbles before they can migrate to the sensor, thus protecting the sensor from false detection while maintaining refill functionality
2Ease of manufacture
If the ink outlet is sealed with a plug during ink refill, then ink can be refilled via the through hole, but the structure interferes with ink flowing into the pathway between the ink reservoir assembly and the ink outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by providing a dedicated ink refill inlet separate from the ink outlet, allowing ink to be refilled into the ink reservoir assembly without blocking the ink outlet pathway, thus maintaining both refill capability and normal ink flow efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the refill function from the ink dispensing function by creating separate pathways: one inlet for refilling the ink reservoir assembly and the existing ink outlet for supplying ink to the print head, eliminating interference between these two functions
3Ease of manufacture
If a through hole is formed at an inadequate position for ink refill, then ink refill can be performed, but the functions of the ink cartridge are damaged and air migrates into the ink sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by specifying precise positional requirements for the inlet relative to the sensor unit and bubble trap module, ensuring that the inlet is located in a region where it can perform refill function without interfering with the sensor unit or allowing air migration, thus maintaining internal structure integrity
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 method effectively removes bubbles from the sensor unit and trap module, preventing false detection and migration of bubbles into the ejection device, ensuring reliable and efficient refilling of liquid containers with minimal disruption to their functions.
Implementation Method 1
a bubble trap module located at a specific position between the liquid reservoir assembly and the sensor unit and configured to trap bubbles included in the liquid
Implementation Method 2
an inlet configured to be open to outside of the liquid container and to communicate either with the bubble trap module or with a pathway of the liquid provided at a specific position between the bubble trap module and the liquid feeder
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention is directed to a remanufacturing method of a liquid container constructed to store a liquid, which is to be supplied to a liquid ejection device. The remanufacturing method provides the liquid container structured to include: a liquid reservoir assembly configured to store the liquid; a liquid feeder configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir assembly to the liquid ejection device; a sensor unit located in the upstream of the liquid feeder and configured to detect a level of the liquid stored in the liquid container; and a bubble trap module located in the upstream of the sensor unit and in the downstream of the liquid reservoir assembly and configured to trap bubbles included in the liquid. The remanufacturing method forms an inlet to communicate either with the bubble trap module or with a pathway of the liquid in the downstream of the bubble trap module. The remanufacturing method injects the liquid through the inlet, and seals the inlet after the injection of the liquid. This arrangement enables the liquid to be readily and efficiently refilled into the liquid container without damaging the functions of the liquid container.