Liquid Container Substrate Isolation for Inkjet Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid containers for inkjet printers expose substrates to high-temperature, high-pressure environments, leading to potential damage from water absorption and swelling, which can cause failures in ink supply.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design where the substrate holding structure is positioned outside the pressurized space, while the liquid container body is inside, using a seal member to prevent leakage and ensure accurate positioning, and an identification element to prevent incorrect mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the substrate is placed inside the pressurized space to enable liquid supply, then the liquid supply function is improved, but the substrate is damaged by water absorption and swelling due to high-temperature and high-pressure environment
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container is divided into two distinct spatial zones: a pressurized space for liquid storage and supply, and a non-pressurized space for substrate placement. The container body holds the liquid in the pressurized zone, while the substrate is positioned in a separate holding structure that remains outside the pressurized environment. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal environment without mutual interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is extracted from the pressurized space and placed in a dedicated substrate holding structure that is positioned outside the pressurized environment. The liquid supply path is extended through the container wall to connect the pressurized liquid reservoir with the non-pressurized substrate location, allowing the substrate to receive liquid supply without being exposed to harmful high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the substrate holding structure is placed outside the pressurized space to protect the substrate, then substrate damage is prevented, but the liquid supply path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid supply path is integrated directly into the container wall structure, merging the functions of container containment and liquid transport. The supply path utilizes the natural thickness of the container wall, eliminating the need for separate external piping or complex connection mechanisms between the pressurized and non-pressurized zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The container wall itself serves as an intermediary structure that bridges the pressurized and non-pressurized spaces. The liquid supply path embedded in the wall provides a controlled transmission route for liquid, pressure, and thermal energy, allowing the substrate to be positioned outside the pressurized environment while still receiving liquid supply through the mediating container structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the container body is made larger to accommodate both liquid storage and substrate placement, then component integration is improved, but the liquid supply pressure distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into functionally distinct zones: a pressurized liquid storage compartment and a non-pressurized substrate holding compartment. This spatial segmentation allows the liquid storage volume to be optimized for pressure distribution without compromise from substrate placement requirements, while the substrate compartment is positioned in a low-pressure zone near the container periphery where pressure effects are minimal.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the container are assigned different pressure characteristics based on their functional requirements. The central liquid storage region maintains high pressure for efficient supply, while the peripheral substrate region operates at atmospheric pressure to protect the substrate. The container wall thickness and supply path positioning are locally optimized to maintain pressure uniformity in the liquid storage zone while providing adequate liquid flow to the substrate zone.
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 configuration prevents substrate damage, maintains readable information, and ensures stable ink supply by keeping the substrate out of the high-temperature, high-pressure environment and preventing leakage and contact failures.
Implementation Method 1
When the pressurized air is introduced into the pressurized tank in this state, the pressure is applied to the ink container placed in the pressurized space to press the ink contained in the ink container toward the ink supply path and supply the ink to a liquid consuming device
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container is configured to be placeable in a containing vessel having a pressurized space and a vessel-side liquid supply structure that is connected with a liquid consuming device. The liquid container comprises a liquid container body; a liquid supply structure that is configured to supply a liquid contained in the liquid container body to the vessel-side liquid supply structure; a container body holding assembly that is configured to hold the liquid container body; and a substrate holding structure that is provided in the container body holding assembly. The container body holding assembly is positioned relative to the containing vessel such that the liquid container body and the liquid supply structure are placed inside of the pressurized space and the substrate holding structure is placed outside of the pressurized space.