Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Separating Mechanism for Residual Liquid Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses with refillable liquid containers face challenges in easily discharging and collecting residual liquid during disposal, as the liquid supply portions are not easily removable, leading to potential spills and staining.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a separating mechanism that allows individual or collective separation of liquid containers from the casing, featuring a liquid discharge portion and a collection system that utilizes hydraulic head pressure to collect residual liquid into a dedicated container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the liquid container is fixed firmly to the casing with screws, then the liquid container is stable during transport, but the liquid container becomes difficult to remove for liquid discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing portion is divided into a fixing member attached to the liquid container and a fixing counterpart attached to the casing. The fixing member can be detached from the fixing counterpart, allowing the liquid container to be securely fixed during operation but easily removed when liquid discharge is needed. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between stable fixation and easy removal.
2Reliability
If the tube is press-fitted into the liquid supply portion, then the connection is secure, but the tube becomes not easily removable or insertable
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid supply connection is segmented into a liquid supply portion with a connection interface and a tube with a corresponding coupling structure. The tube can be easily coupled to and decoupled from the liquid supply portion through this interface design, maintaining secure connection during operation while enabling easy removal when needed for liquid discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the tube and liquid supply portion is designed to be dynamically adjustable. The tube can be easily inserted and removed from the liquid supply portion, transitioning between connected and disconnected states as needed. This dynamic connection resolves the contradiction between secure fixation and ease of removal.
3Ease of manufacture
If the liquid supply portion structure is simple, then the manufacturing is easy, but the liquid may spill during tube removal
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid discharge portion is provided in advance on the liquid container, positioned to discharge liquid in a direction away from the liquid supply portion. Before tube removal operations, the liquid discharge portion is already in place and can be used to discharge any residual liquid, preventing spills during the removal process. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction between simple structure and spill prevention.
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
Enables efficient and spill-free discharge of residual liquid, facilitating safe disposal and collection, reducing the risk of staining and improving user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid discharge portion discharging liquid stored in the liquid storage portion to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection head, a plurality of liquid containers, a casing, and a fixing portion that fixes the plurality of liquid containers to the casing. The liquid container has a liquid storage portion, a liquid supply portion, and a liquid discharge portion. The liquid supply portion is directly or indirectly coupled to one end portion of a supply passage supplying liquid to the ejection head. The liquid discharge portion discharges liquid stored in the liquid storage portion to the outside. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a separating mechanism that, in a state where fixing of the liquid container to the casing by the fixing portion is released, separates the liquid container individually from the casing in a first direction which is a direction of separating the liquid supply portion from the one end portion of the supply passage.