Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Waste Liquid Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid ejecting apparatuses face issues with waste liquid dribbling from the discharge portion, leading to internal dirtying, especially when inverted, as existing designs fail to effectively contain the waste liquid near the discharge point.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a liquid holding portion around the discharge portion and a liquid guiding portion that contacts the holding portion to direct waste liquid into the waste liquid container, along with a support member featuring concentric circular ring-shaped convex and recessed portions to manage liquid flow and containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the waste liquid container is mounted in the conventional manner without additional containment structures, then the device complexity is low, but the waste liquid may dribble from around the discharge portion and dirty the inside of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting unit is segmented into distinct functional regions: a discharge portion for waste liquid ejection and a liquid holding portion for containing waste liquid. This segmentation allows the waste liquid to be contained in specific zones, preventing it from dribbling and dirtying the apparatus interior while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid holding portion acts as an intermediary structure between the discharge portion and the waste liquid container. It intercepts and contains waste liquid that might otherwise dribble from the discharge portion, serving as a protective barrier that prevents contamination of the apparatus interior.
2Ease of operation
If the liquid ejecting apparatus is inverted for maintenance or transport, then the ease of operation is improved, but the waste liquid discharged from the discharge portion may dribble from around it and dirty the inside of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid holding portion is positioned and configured to preemptively contain waste liquid before it can dribble from the discharge portion. This preliminary containment action ensures that even when the apparatus is inverted during maintenance or transport, the waste liquid remains confined and cannot contaminate the apparatus interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the dribbling problem not by changing the vertical orientation dependence, but by introducing a radial containment dimension through the liquid holding portion. This creates a three-dimensional containment zone around the discharge portion that effectively traps waste liquid regardless of the apparatus orientation.
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
Effectively suppresses waste liquid dribbling and internal dirtying by holding and guiding the liquid into the container, even when the apparatus is inverted, while reducing apparatus costs through the use of capillary phenomena and recessed portions.
Implementation Method 1
the mounting unit includes a liquid holding portion capable of holding the waste liquid in a periphery of the discharge portion
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid, a discharge portion which discharges a waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, and a mounting unit which is provided with the discharge portion and in which is mounted a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid which is discharged from the discharge portion, in which the mounting unit includes a liquid holding portion capable of holding the waste liquid in a periphery of the discharge portion.