Inkjet Collection Container with Partitioned Chambers for Liquid Isolation

Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with liquids from different nozzles reacting and aggregating when collected together, leading to potential ejection failures and maintenance complications.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a container unit with separate collection chambers for different liquids, such as ink and pre-processing liquid, to prevent mixing and aggregation, using partitions to segregate the containers based on the likelihood of reaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multiple liquids are collected in a single container, then the container structure is simple, but liquids may react and aggregate causing ejection failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer structureVSAvoidejection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple separate collection chambers by partitions, with each chamber dedicated to collecting a specific liquid type. This segmentation prevents different liquids from mixing and reacting, thereby maintaining ejection reliability while keeping the overall container structure relatively simple through systematic division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate collection chambers are used for different liquids, then liquid aggregation is prevented, but the container structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection reliabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple separate collection chambers by partitions, with each chamber dedicated to collecting a specific liquid type. This segmentation prevents different liquids from mixing and reacting, thereby maintaining ejection reliability while keeping the overall container structure relatively simple through systematic division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If liquids are segregated by dedicated collection chambers, then liquid aggregation is prevented, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple separate collection chambers by partitions, with each chamber dedicated to collecting a specific liquid type. This segmentation prevents different liquids from mixing and reacting, thereby maintaining ejection reliability while keeping the overall container structure relatively simple through systematic division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4357141B1Inkjet recording apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 KYOCERA CORP

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AI summary

An inkjet recording apparatus includes at least one head respectively ejecting liquid and a container including a container main body including an opening receiving the liquid ejected from the at least one head and a partition partitioning the container main body into a plurality of independent regions. The partition includes at least one first portion partitioning the container main body in a first direction and at least one second portion partitioning the container main body in a second direction intersecting the first direction.