Liquid Ejecting Head Coupling via Elastic Snap-Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face low work efficiency due to the need for screw fastening in the process of fixing the head body and flow channel member, which complicates the coupling process and requires additional space and torque management.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting unit with a coupling member that includes elastic bodies to bias attachment and coupling portions, allowing for a screw-less coupling mechanism where the elastic bodies bias the attachment portions to contact the coupling portions, enabling efficient coupling of the flow channel member to the liquid ejecting head through a rotating mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw fastening is used to fix the head body and flow channel member, then the coupling is secure and reliable, but the work efficiency is low and the coupling process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the screw fastening mechanism from the coupling process. Instead of using screws to secure the flow channel member to the head body, the invention uses a snap-fit coupling mechanism where protrusions engage with recesses, allowing secure attachment without fasteners and significantly improving assembly efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism is designed to be self-securing through elastic deformation. The protrusions on the flow channel member automatically engage with the recesses on the head body through elastic bias, creating a self-locking coupling that maintains reliability without requiring external fastening operations
2Reliability
If screw fastening is used to fix the head body and flow channel member, then the coupling is secure, but the coupling process requires additional space and torque management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes screws, torque requirements, and associated fastening tools from the coupling system. The snap-fit mechanism with protrusions and recesses eliminates the need for torque management and reduces the spatial requirements for coupling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical screw fastening system with an elastic snap-fit coupling system. The protrusions utilize elastic deformation to engage securely with recesses, substituting a complex mechanical fastening process with a simpler elastic engagement mechanism
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 enhances work efficiency by eliminating the need for screw fastening, reducing the complexity of the coupling process, and allowing for a more compact design, while ensuring a firm and secure attachment of the flow channel member to the liquid ejecting head.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic body that elastically biases the first attachment portion or the first coupling portion; and a second elastic body that elastically biases the second attachment portion or the second coupling portion
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting unit includes: a liquid ejecting head; and a coupling member coupled to the liquid ejecting head, in which the liquid ejecting head has a first-coupling portion and a second-coupling portion, the liquid ejecting unit further includes: a first-attachment portion provided in a first-position of the coupling member; a second-attachment portion provided in a second-position of the coupling member, the second position being different from the first position; a first-elastic body; and a second-elastic body, and the first-elastic body biases the first-attachment portion or the first-coupling portion in a state in which the first-attachment portion is in contact with the first-coupling portion and the second-elastic body biases the second-attachment portion or the second-coupling portion in a state in which the second-attachment portion is in contact with the second-coupling portion, so that the coupling member is coupled to the liquid ejecting head.