Liquid Vessel Substrate Support Ridge Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid containing vessel designs for ink cartridges face challenges in reducing size while maintaining positional alignment and energy efficiency, and they are difficult to manufacture and use effectively.
Innovation Solution
A substrate support member is introduced, featuring a substrate support section with ridge sections that engage with terminal sections on the apparatus side, allowing for secure alignment and reduced size, while preventing positional deviations and contact faults, and incorporating inclined surfaces for smooth engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a groove is formed along the insertion direction to positionally align the substrate with the liquid ejecting apparatus, then the substrate can be properly aligned, but the size of the liquid containing vessel cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional groove structure to a three-dimensional ridge structure that protrudes from the side wall. This dimensional change allows the alignment function to be achieved without occupying the insertion direction space, enabling size reduction of the liquid containing vessel while maintaining positional alignment precision between the substrate and apparatus side terminal section.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment structure is segmented into discrete ridge sections that can engage with corresponding engaging sections on the apparatus side terminal section. This segmentation allows for a more compact design compared to a continuous groove, reducing the overall volume required for alignment while maintaining precision.
2Volume of moving object
If the liquid containing vessel size is reduced, then energy efficiency and manufacturability improve, but maintaining sufficient groove width for substrate alignment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the alignment structure from the insertion direction (Y axis) to the side wall (X-Z plane), the patent creates sufficient alignment width without increasing the insertion direction length. The ridge sections protruding from the side wall provide adequate engagement width while the liquid containing vessel maintains a compact overall size.
3Volume of moving object
If ridge sections are positioned closer to the contact section to reduce size, then the liquid containing vessel becomes smaller, but contact point faults between substrate and terminal section increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge sections are positioned to engage with the apparatus side terminal section before the substrate makes contact, establishing proper alignment in advance. This preliminary engagement ensures that when the substrate contacts the terminal section, the contact points are correctly positioned, preventing contact point faults while maintaining a compact design.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a liquid containing vessel that is inserted in the -Y axis direction with regard to a mounting section, a substrate support member includes a substrate support section configured to hold a substrate, a first side wall along the Y axis and the Z axis, the first side wall being provided more to the +X axis direction side than the substrate support section, and a first ridge section protruding from the first side wall in the -X axis direction and configured to engage with a first apparatus side engaging section that protrudes in the +X axis direction in the apparatus side terminal section.