Offset Liquid Cartridge Center of Gravity Reduces Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cartridges, such as ink cartridges for printers, are prone to breakage and ink leakage when fallen, due to intense impact on communicating portions, leading to soiling and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cartridge design with a communicating portion that is offset in the width direction, featuring a narrow portion where ink is stored, which reduces the impact on the communicating portion when the cartridge falls, thereby minimizing the risk of breakage and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the communicating portion protrudes from the end surface to supply liquid, then liquid supply function is improved, but impact resistance when fallen is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by offsetting the narrow portion and center of gravity toward the first side in the width direction, creating an asymmetric mass distribution. This asymmetric design ensures that when the cartridge falls with the communicating portion facing downward, the center of gravity shifts away from the communicating portion, reducing the impact force concentrated on the communicating portion and preventing breakage or disassembly.
2Ease of operation
If the joint portions protrude further than the wall to enable communication, then liquid communication function is improved, but breakage risk when fallen is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric positioning of the narrow portion offset toward the first side, creating an asymmetric center of gravity position. This asymmetric design ensures that when the cartridge falls, the impact is not concentrated on the communicating portion, thereby preventing breakage of the protruding joint portions while maintaining their liquid communication function.
3Shape
If the communicating portion is positioned centrally, then structural symmetry is improved, but impact concentration when fallen is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately breaks structural symmetry by offsetting the narrow portion and center of gravity toward the first side in the width direction. This asymmetric configuration ensures that when the cartridge falls with the communicating portion facing downward, the center of gravity is positioned away from the communicating portion, distributing the impact force and preventing concentration of stress on the vulnerable communicating portion.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid cartridge includes a cartridge main body comprising a liquid chamber and an end surface. The liquid cartridge also includes a communicating portion protruding from the end surface of the cartridge main body in a protruding direction which is perpendicular to a width direction. The liquid chamber includes a wide portion and a narrow portion which is narrower than the wide portion in the width direction, and the narrow portion is offset toward a first side of the cartridge main body in the width direction. When the liquid cartridge is oriented such that the communicating portion faces downward and liquid is stored in the narrow portion, a position of center of gravity of the liquid cartridge is offset toward the first side of the cartridge main body from an area occupied by the communicating portion when the liquid cartridge is viewed in a vertical direction.