Liquid Supplier Engaging Mechanism for Displacement Tolerance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid ejecting apparatuses face issues with properly attaching a liquid supplier when the container is displaced during attachment, leading to improper connection and potential detachment.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejecting apparatus with a detachable liquid supplier featuring an engaging portion that engages with a receiving portion on the container, allowing relative movement across the container's movement path, and a latching mechanism to prevent separation, ensuring proper attachment and connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the liquid supplier is fixed to the attaching portion, then the connection reliability is improved, but the liquid supplier cannot accommodate container displacement during attachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidaccommodation of container displacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging portion is designed to be movable relative to the container in the width direction, allowing dynamic adjustment during attachment. This enables the liquid supplier to accommodate container displacement while maintaining reliable connection through the engaging portion-receiving portion interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the liquid supplier is detachably attached without fixing, then the adaptability to container movement is improved, but the connection reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of container displacementVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into the liquid supplier, container, and attaching portion as separate components. The liquid supplier detachably attaches to the attaching portion via the engaging portion, allowing independent movement and positioning while maintaining connection through the engaging portion-receiving portion interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If the engaging portion is fixed relative to the container, then the positioning precision is improved, but the ability to adjust during attachment is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidadjustment during attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If the container is latched to prevent movement, then the connection stability is improved, but the ease of attachment and removal is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidease of attachment and removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The latching portion is designed to automatically latch the container upon attachment, providing preliminary stabilization. This ensures proper connection stability while requiring simple user action for both attachment and removal operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10239315B2Liquid ejecting apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid supplied from a liquid supplier which has an engaging portion, a container that has an engaging-portion-receiving portion with which the engaging portion engages, and an attaching portion to which the container is detachably attached. The liquid supplier is detachably attached to the attaching portion with movement of the container in a state where the engaging portion has engaged with the engaging-portion-receiving portion. The engaging portion engages with the engaging-portion-receiving portion to be relatively movable in a direction which crosses a movement path of the container when the container is attached to the attaching portion.