Liquid Storage Container Outlet Pitch Arrangement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid storage containers for liquid ejection apparatuses, such as ink jet printing systems, face challenges in managing the size and number of components around the outlet as the number of liquid storage portions increases, leading to potential size and waste issues.
Innovation Solution
A liquid storage container design that includes multiple liquid storage portions and outlets, where the array pitch between the midpoints of points where a center line intersects sections of the liquid storage portions is greater than the array pitch between adjacent outlets, allowing for a compact and efficient configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of liquid storage portions is increased, then the liquid storage capacity is improved, but the size and number of members around the outlet increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple outlets are arranged in a cluster and connected to a shared connection surface, merging what would otherwise be separate connection structures into a single integrated component. This reduces the overall number of members around the outlet area while maintaining multiple liquid storage portions
Solution Approach 2:
The outlets are arranged in a two-dimensional array pattern on the connection surface, utilizing spatial distribution in multiple directions rather than a linear arrangement. This optimizes the use of available space and prevents the outlet structure from expanding excessively in any single dimension
2Quantity of substance
If the number of liquid storage portions is increased, then the liquid storage capacity is improved, but the amount of discarded members increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple outlets share a common connection surface and supporting structure, so that increasing the number of liquid storage portions does not linearly increase the number of discarded members. The shared structure is discarded as a single unit rather than multiple separate units
Solution Approach 2:
The connection surface serves multiple functions: it provides the connection interface for multiple outlets, supports the outlet structure, and defines the sealing surface. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed and consequently reduces waste
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid storage container that includes: multiple liquid storage portions that store liquids; and multiple outlets through which the liquids are dispensed out of the multiple liquid storage portions, respectively, in which, on a first surface of the multiple liquid storage portions including a connection surface connected with the outlets of the liquid storage portions, A/B>1 is satisfied where an array pitch between midpoints of points where a center line, which is passing through centers of the adjacent outlets, intersects sections of the liquid storage portions is A, and an array pitch between the adjacent outlets is B.