Liquid Ejection Apparatus Waste Container Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses face challenges in minimizing their mounting area while maintaining operability, as the layout of components can increase the apparatus size due to the placement of a waste liquid container, compromising the ease of attaching and detaching it.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with a mounting portion for the waste liquid container positioned on the front side in the transport direction, allowing the carriage to overlap the mounting portion vertically when the liquid ejection head is outside the transport path, thereby reducing the overall width and maintaining good operability for attaching and detaching the waste liquid container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the waste liquid container is mounted in a position that minimizes the mounting area, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the operability of attaching and detaching the waste liquid container deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the mounting portion on the front side in the transport direction and utilizes vertical overlap with the carriage when the liquid ejection head is outside the transport path. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions (front side positioning + vertical overlap) allows the waste liquid container to be mounted in a compact area while maintaining accessibility for attachment and detachment operations.
2Length of stationary object
If the mounting portion is positioned on the front side in the transport direction, then the overall width of the apparatus is reduced, but the space for operating the waste liquid container may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs vertical positioning and overlap in the vertical direction between the carriage and mounting portion. When the liquid ejection head is outside the transport path, the carriage is disposed at a position that overlaps the mounting portion vertically, creating operational space without increasing the overall width of the apparatus.
3Area of stationary object
If the carriage is positioned to overlap the mounting portion vertically, then the mounting area is minimized, but the liquid ejection head positioning becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the dynamic movement of the carriage in the scanning direction. The carriage can move to position the liquid ejection head within the transport path for ejection operations, and can also be disposed at positions that overlap the mounting portion vertically when the liquid ejection head is outside the transport path. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to adapt between different operational states without compromising either mounting area minimization or liquid ejection head positioning flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid to a medium transported in a transport direction on a transport path, a liquid container that includes a containing chamber for containing liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head and an inlet for pouring the liquid into the containing chamber, a carriage movable in a scanning direction that intersects the transport direction in a state where the liquid ejection head and the liquid container loaded on the carriage, and a mounting portion on which a waste liquid container that contains liquid as waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejection head is detachably mounted. When the liquid ejection head is located outside the transport path in the scanning direction, the carriage is disposed at a position that overlaps the mounting portion in the vertical direction.