Liquid Tank Segmentation for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid tank designs for inkjet printers face issues with air bubbles forming due to rippling of the ink surface during carriage movement, leading to ink discharge errors as air bubbles are supplied to the print head.
Innovation Solution
A liquid tank with a divided chamber configuration, including small liquid chambers partitioned by division walls and communication ports at different heights, which allows air to move to adjacent chambers while liquid moves to adjacent chambers, reducing rippling and air bubble formation, and incorporating a filter member to prevent extraneous materials from reaching the print head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a wall orthogonal to the direction of movement is provided within a sub tank to mitigate foaming, then foaming is reduced, but air bubbles still flow to the head side causing ink discharge errors
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber is divided into multiple small liquid chambers by first division walls perpendicular to the Y direction. This segmentation reduces the volume of each chamber, suppressing rippling and air bubble generation while maintaining effective liquid supply to the head
Solution Approach 2:
Communication portions are provided at different heights (upper and lower communication portions) to enable multi-dimensional liquid and air flow paths. This allows air to escape through upper portions while liquid is supplied through lower portions, preventing air bubbles from reaching the head
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the liquid chamber volume is reduced to suppress rippling, then air bubble generation is mitigated, but liquid supply capacity may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber is divided into multiple small liquid chambers, each with reduced volume to suppress rippling. The collective capacity of multiple chambers maintains sufficient liquid supply while individual chamber size prevents excessive wave generation
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple small liquid chambers are combined through communication portions to function as a unified liquid supply system. The chambers work together to maintain adequate liquid capacity while individually suppressing rippling effects
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 design effectively reduces the likelihood of air bubbles reaching the print head, improving ink supply reliability and accuracy by minimizing rippling and air bubble generation, and allowing for easier liquid level recognition.
Implementation Method 1
air moves to an adjacent small liquid chamber via the upper communication portion
Implementation Method 2
liquid moves to an adjacent small liquid chamber via the lower communication portion
Implementation Method 3
it is possible to suppress the rippling of liquid due to movement of the carriage, and thus it is possible to mitigate the generation of air bubbles due to the foaming of liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a technique for reducing the likelihood of air bubbles flowing to a liquid ejection head, in a liquid tank mounted on a carriage. The liquid tank mounted on the carriage movable in a Y direction includes a liquid chamber, a liquid inlet port, an atmospheric air introduction portion, a liquid outlet, and a division wall arranged in the liquid chamber. The division wall has first division walls perpendicular to the Y direction in a mounted state on the carriage, and the liquid chamber includes a plurality of small liquid chambers partitioned by the first division walls, an upper communication portion allowing the small liquid chambers to be in communication with each other, and a lower communication portion positioned below the upper communication, and allowing the small liquid chambers to be in communication with each other.