Liquid Discharge Container With Interworking Covers And Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, such as printing apparatuses, suffer from erroneous opening/closing of valves during ink replenishment, leading to discharge failures or ink leakage due to manual user operations.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a container system featuring interworking cover portions and valves that automatically open/close passages based on the movement of cover portions, eliminating the need for manual sensor or actuator control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual valve opening/closing operation is used for ink replenishment, then the structure is simple, but erroneous operation occurs leading to discharge failure or ink leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cover opening/closing operation with the valve opening/closing operation into a single integrated mechanism. When the user opens the cover to replenish ink, the valve automatically opens through mechanical linkage. When the cover is closed, the valve automatically closes. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual valve control while ensuring reliable, error-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system performs self-service by automatically responding to cover position changes. The mechanical linkage between the cover and valve enables the valve to open or close autonomously based on the user's cover operation, without requiring separate manual intervention or complex electronic controls.
2Ease of operation
If manual valve operation is used, then the device is easy to operate, but ink leakage occurs when replenishing in wrong state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cover operation and valve operation into a single synchronized action. The mechanical linkage ensures that the valve state always corresponds to the cover state - open when cover is open, closed when cover is closed. This eliminates the possibility of ink leakage during replenishment while maintaining ease of operation through the same intuitive cover-based interface.
3Device complexity
If manual valve operation is used, then no additional mechanisms are needed, but discharge failure occurs due to erroneous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system provides self-service by automatically adjusting its state in response to cover position changes through mechanical linkage. This ensures reliable ink supply during printing operations while maintaining simplicity - the system serves itself without requiring additional sensors, actuators, or complex electronic control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a container configured to store a liquid to be supplied to a discharge unit, a first cover portion capable of moving between a closing position where an inlet portion in the container is covered and an opening position, a second cover portion capable of moving between a closing position where the first cover portion is covered and an opening position where the first cover portion is exposed so as to be opened/closed, and a valve which opens/closes a passage communicating with an inside of the container. The valve closes the passage interworking with a movement of the first cover portion to the opening position, and opens the passage interworking with a movement of the second cover portion to the closing position.