Liquid Surface Detector Electrode Pin Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid surface detectors in inkjet printers, used to detect the height of pretreatment liquids, face issues due to corrosion and foreign substance accumulation, leading to erroneous detection and poor wettability, causing the liquid to remain between electrode pins and resulting in incorrect liquid surface detection.

Innovation Solution

The liquid surface detector design includes electrode pins and a ground pin disposed in different directions within a tube, maximizing the distance between the ground pin and the electrode pins to prevent conduction and surface tension effects, ensuring accurate detection of the liquid surface height by applying alternating voltage and grounding the ground pin, which reduces corrosion and foreign substance accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If electrode pins are disposed close together to detect liquid surface height, then detection precision is improved, but corrosion and foreign substance accumulation occur leading to erroneous detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid surface height detection precisionVSAvoiddetection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement of electrodes to a two-dimensional planar configuration where the ground pin and electrode pins are positioned at right angles to each other. This dimensional change maximizes the distance between the ground pin and electrode pins while maintaining compact detector geometry, thereby preventing conduction paths and surface tension effects that cause erroneous detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the ground pin and electrode pins within the detector tube. Instead of symmetric or linear arrangement, the ground pin is positioned perpendicular to the electrode pins, creating an asymmetric configuration that optimizes the distance between electrodes and prevents liquid film formation between them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If electrode pins are disposed in the same direction to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but liquid remains between pins causing incorrect detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector structure complexityVSAvoidliquid surface detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the structural simplicity versus detection accuracy contradiction by arranging the ground pin and electrode pins in different directions (perpendicular to each other) within the detector tube. This directional arrangement prevents liquid film formation between electrodes while maintaining a compact and relatively simple detector structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If ground pin and electrode pins are disposed close together, then detector size is reduced, but conduction and surface tension effects cause erroneous detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector sizeVSAvoiddetection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves compact detector size while maintaining reliable detection by positioning the ground pin and electrode pins perpendicular to each other within the tube. This orthogonal arrangement maximizes the spatial distance between electrodes in three-dimensional space while keeping the overall detector volume small, thereby preventing conduction paths and surface tension effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spatial parameter of electrode arrangement from linear/collinear to perpendicular/orthogonal configuration. This parameter change in electrode positioning optimizes the distance between the ground pin and electrode pins, preventing liquid film formation and conduction while maintaining compact detector dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration enhances the non-filminess of the pretreatment liquid, preventing erroneous detection and ensuring accurate liquid surface monitoring, even when the liquid surface falls, thus maintaining reliable operation of the liquid coating and discharge processes.

Implementation Method 1

an electrode pin and a ground pin are disposed in an inkjet printer to detect a height of the liquid surface of the pretreatment liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

poor wettability, causing the liquid to remain between electrode pins and resulting in incorrect liquid surface detection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS10442207B2Liquid surface detector, liquid coating device, and liquid discharge apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A liquid surface detector includes a tube through which a liquid passes; an electrode pin disposed on an inner wall of the tube; and a ground pin disposed on the inner wall of the tube. In the liquid surface detector, the electrode pin and the ground pin are disposed in different directions as viewed from an axial direction of the tube.