Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Carriage Depth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid ejecting apparatuses face an increase in size due to the need for a waste liquid tank, which complicates their design and space management, particularly in inkjet printers where the tank must be integrated within the apparatus body.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with a carriage that mounts multiple liquid containers side by side in the depth direction, allowing the waste liquid container to overlap the carriage in the vertical direction, reducing the apparatus's depth and width by positioning the liquid ejecting head and waste liquid container strategically when outside the transport path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a waste liquid tank is disposed within the apparatus body, then the waste liquid can be contained, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional reorganization by arranging multiple liquid containers side by side in the depth direction rather than the width direction. This allows the carriage to overlap with the waste liquid containing portion in the vertical direction, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space to reduce the overall apparatus footprint while maintaining waste liquid containment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements nesting by positioning the waste liquid containing portion such that it overlaps with the carriage in the vertical direction. The liquid containers are arranged within the carriage structure, and the waste liquid tank is integrated into the same vertical space, creating a nested configuration that minimizes external dimensions
2Area of stationary object
If liquid containers are arranged in the width direction, then the apparatus width is reduced, but the carriage length in depth direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional arrangement (width direction) to three-dimensional arrangement by positioning liquid containers side by side in the depth direction. This allows the carriage to extend in depth while maintaining compact width, and the overlapping vertical arrangement with the waste liquid tank compensates for the increased carriage depth
3Quantity of substance
If the carriage is made longer to accommodate multiple liquid containers, then more liquid can be stored, but the apparatus depth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention nests the waste liquid containing portion within the vertical space occupied by the carriage. By making the waste liquid tank overlap with the carriage in the vertical direction, the effective depth of the apparatus is reduced while the carriage maintains sufficient length to accommodate multiple liquid containers for adequate storage capacity
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head ejecting liquid onto a medium transported on a transport path extending in a depth direction, a carriage holding the liquid ejecting head and reciprocally moving in a width direction so as to cross the transport path, and a waste liquid containing portion containing waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head. The carriage includes a plurality of liquid containers that contain the liquid and are mounted on the carriage in such a manner that a plurality of the liquid containers are arranged side by side with each other in the depth direction. A portion of the carriage overlaps the waste liquid containing portion in a vertical direction when the liquid ejecting head is outside the transport path.