Liquid Discharge Apparatus Flow Path Interference Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the supply flow path in a consistent open or closed state, leading to unstable ink flow rates during printing and potential ink leakage during transportation, due to the transient state between these states.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a moving unit that interferes with the operation unit to prevent the supply flow path from entering a transient state, ensuring it remains either fully open or closed, and utilizes an opening/closing mechanism with a lever and cam system to control the flow path, along with a detection system to prevent unintended printing when the flow path is closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the operation unit is allowed to operate freely between open and closed states, then the supply flow path can be switched between open and closed states, but the supply flow path may enter a transient state with unstable ink flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The moving unit acts as an intermediary between the operation unit and the supply flow path. When the operation unit is in the transient state, the moving unit detects this condition and interferes with the operation unit to prevent the supply flow path from entering the transient state, thereby maintaining ink flow stability while still allowing state switching capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the moving unit that continuously monitors the position of the operation unit. When the operation unit enters the transient state range, the moving unit provides feedback by interfering with the operation unit to push it back to either the open or closed state, ensuring the supply flow path maintains a stable state
2Quantity of substance
If the supply flow path is allowed to be in a transient state, then liquid can be supplied at a smaller flow rate, but the required processing result cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The moving unit performs preliminary anti-action by detecting when the operation unit enters the transient state range and actively interfering with it before the supply flow path can enter the transient state. This prevents the unstable ink flow condition from occurring in the first place, ensuring that only stable open or closed states are achieved
3Productivity
If the operation unit stops in the transient state, then ink flow rate is reduced, but both processing requiring liquid supply and processing requiring liquid stop cannot achieve required results
Solution Approach 1:
The moving unit serves as an intermediary that monitors the operation unit's position and actively prevents it from stopping in the transient state. By detecting the transient state range and interfering with the operation unit, the moving unit ensures the system only operates in stable open or closed states, maintaining both productivity and processing result accuracy
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 solution stabilizes ink flow during printing and reduces the risk of ink leakage during transportation by ensuring the supply flow path is either fully open or closed, thereby preventing unintended ink consumption and leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a cam unit 65 that transforms a rotation of the shaft unit 64 into a movement in an axial direction of the shaft unit 64 of a pressing member 66
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid storing portion, a liquid discharge unit that discharges the liquid to a medium and performs printing, a supply flow path that communicates the liquid storing portion and the liquid discharge unit, an opening/closing mechanism including an opening/closing unit that brings the supply flow path into an open state or a closed state and an operation unit that operates the opening/closing unit, and a moving unit configured to move between a first position that is a normal position when performing the printing and a second position different from the first position. A range where the operation unit brings supply flow path into a transient state between the open state and the closed state includes a position of the operation unit at which the operation unit interferes with the moving unit located in the first position.