Liquid Ejection Terminal Positioning for Mounting Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejection systems, misalignment during cartridge mounting can lead to contact failure between apparatus-side and cartridge-side terminals due to rotation forces caused by biasing forces, resulting in potential mounting position issues.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection system design featuring a mounting unit with an elastically deformable apparatus-side terminal portion and a locking mechanism that restricts the liquid storage container's movement, along with a container-side terminal portion positioned closer to the top surface than the center, reducing moments and enhancing terminal contact reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a float type terminal section that can be displaced by elastically deforming is used as a terminal portion including the apparatus-side terminals, then the terminal portion can accommodate mounting position variations, but a rotation force is imparted to the cartridge by a biasing force applied from the apparatus-side terminals to the cartridge in mounting of the cartridge in a holder, which may cause contact failure between the cartridge terminals and the apparatus-side terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the container-side terminal portion at a location closer to the top surface than to the center of the liquid storage container in the vertical direction. This vertical dimension adjustment changes the moment arm of the biasing force, reducing the rotation force imparted to the cartridge during mounting while maintaining terminal contact reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus-side terminal portion is designed to be elastically deformable specifically in a horizontal direction parallel to the mounting direction, while maintaining rigidity in other directions. This localized elasticity allows accommodation of mounting variations without generating excessive rotation force
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
The design reduces the occurrence of contact failure between the container-side and apparatus-side terminals by minimizing rotation-induced moments, ensuring stable terminal contact and secure mounting.
Implementation Method 1
an apparatus-side terminal portion that is elastically deformable at least in a horizontal direction which is parallel to a mounting direction of the liquid storage container
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection system includes: a liquid ejection apparatus; and a liquid storage container, wherein the liquid ejection apparatus includes a mounting unit having an apparatus-side terminal portion that is elastically deformable in a mounting direction, and an apparatus-side locking portion that restricts the liquid storage container from moving in a direction opposite to the mounting direction of the liquid storage container, and the liquid storage container includes a top surface located on an upper side in a vertical direction in a mounted state in which the liquid storage container is mounted, a container-side locking portion, the container-side locking portion being provided on the top surface, and a container-side terminal portion coupled to the apparatus-side terminal portion, the container-side terminal portion being provided at a position closer to the top surface than to a center of the liquid storage container in the vertical direction.