Liquid Supply Valve with Movable Body for Drip-Free Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face issues with ink or liquid dripping during the attachment and detachment of flow channels, which can lead to inefficiencies and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply valve system with a valve body that switches between multiple states to disconnect and reconnect flow channels, including an air release port to manage pressure and prevent dripping, allowing for secure attachment and detachment without liquid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flow channel is directly attached to and detached from the liquid introduction pipe, then the attachment and detachment operation is simple, but liquid may drip during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is preliminarily set to the second state (disconnecting the first connection port and second connection port) before attachment. This preliminary action ensures that even if liquid is present in the flow channels, it cannot drip during the attachment and detachment operations, as the valve physically blocks the flow path between the ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body acts as an intermediary element between the first connection port and second connection port. By introducing this intermediate component, the patent controls the connection state independently from the attachment/detachment operation itself, allowing the operation to remain simple while preventing liquid dripping through the valve's blocking function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the valve body is moved to switch connection states, then liquid dripping is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is segmented into distinct components: a valve body that can be moved between positions, a valve casing containing the flow channels, and connecting portions for attachment. This segmentation allows the valve body to independently control the connection state between ports without complicating the overall attachment/detachment operation of the flow channel system.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to be movable between different positions (first state and second state) to dynamically control the connection between ports. This dynamic element allows the system to switch between connected and disconnected states as needed, preventing liquid dripping while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through controlled movement rather than complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for connecting a second-flow-channel, which supplies a liquid to a liquid-ejecting-head, with a first-flow-channel of the liquid-ejecting-head which ejects the liquid, includes a valve-casing, a first-connector that detachably connects the first-flow-channel, a second-connector that connects the second-flow-channel, a first-connection-port that communicates with the first-flow-channel which is connected with the first-connector, a second-connector that communicates with the second-flow-channel which is connected with the second-connector, and a valve-body in which a connecting-flow-channel is formed for connecting the first-connection-port and the second-connection-port, and that is moved inside the valve-casing to switch a connection state between the first-connection-port and the second-connection-port among a plurality of states. The plurality of states include a first state in which the first-connection-port and the second-connection-port communicate with each other via the connecting-flow-channel, and a second state in which the first-connection-port and the second-connection-port are disconnected.