Liquid Tank Asymmetric Protrusions for Inclined Ink Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid tanks for printers face issues with liquid remaining when inclined, as they are designed to reduce remaining liquid only in one direction, leading to accumulation on the opposite side when tilted differently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a liquid tank with first and second protruding portions inside the tank, each inclined in different directions, along with an electrode member placement to prevent meniscus formation and enhance detection accuracy, allowing the tank to reduce liquid volume and visibility, thus minimizing remaining liquid regardless of the inclination direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a liquid tank is designed with a single protruding portion inclined in one direction to reduce remaining liquid, then the remaining liquid amount is reduced when inclined in that direction, but the remaining liquid amount increases when inclined in the opposite direction
Solution Approach 1:
The single protruding portion is divided into multiple protruding portions (first protruding portion and second protruding portion) that are inclined in different directions. Each protruding portion handles liquid flow for a specific inclination direction, ensuring that remaining liquid is reduced regardless of which direction the tank is inclined.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portions are designed with asymmetric inclination angles relative to the tank's vertical centerline. The first protruding portion inclines in one direction while the second protruding portion inclines in the opposite direction, creating a symmetric arrangement that addresses both inclination scenarios equally effectively.
2Loss of substance
If protruding portions are added inside the liquid tank to reduce remaining liquid, then the remaining liquid amount is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protruding portions are integrated into a single tank body structure, sharing common walls and support structures. The first and second protruding portions are positioned to utilize the tank's existing geometric features, reducing the need for additional separate components and minimizing overall structural complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the electrode member is placed close to the protruding portion to detect liquid level, then the detection accuracy is improved, but meniscus formation occurs between the electrode member and protruding portion causing detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
A gap is introduced as an intermediary space between the electrode member and the first protruding portion. This gap prevents direct contact and eliminates meniscus formation at the interface, allowing the electrode member to detect liquid level accurately without the harmful capillary effects that would otherwise occur.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid tank that can reduce the remaining amount of liquid even if a use state of the liquid tank is in an inclined state. The liquid tank includes an external wall, a liquid discharge port, and a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion that are provided inside the liquid tank and respectively protrude from a third side wall. The height of the second protruding portion from a bottom wall in a use state is higher than the height of the first protruding portion from the bottom wall. The first protruding portion has, at an upper portion thereof, a first inclined portion that is inclined to the upper part in the first direction, and the second protruding portion has, at an upper portion thereof, a second inclined portion that is inclined to the upper part in the second direction.