Pivoting Ink Container Frame for Vertical Refill Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing systems face challenges in efficiently refilling printing fluid tanks due to the need for users to manually hold removable fluid containers in a vertical position during refilling, which can lead to faulty connections, spills, and increased idle times, especially with larger containers that require significant user effort and time.

Innovation Solution

A foldable frame with pivoting elements and snap-fit or biasing mechanisms supports multiple printing fluid containers in a vertical position, allowing automatic or semi-automatic deployment and connection to input connectors, ensuring secure and efficient refilling without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually hold removable fluid containers during refilling, then they can control the positioning, but this increases user effort and time, and may lead to faulty connections or spills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidrefilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure automatically maintains containers in the correct vertical position and guides them to the refilling station without requiring user intervention. The structure serves itself by using gravity and mechanical design to ensure proper orientation and connection, eliminating the need for users to manually hold containers during refilling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting structure acts as an intermediary device between the containers and the refilling station. It provides a mechanical interface that automatically positions containers, guides them to the correct location, and maintains proper orientation throughout the refilling process, thereby ensuring reliable connections without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If larger fluid containers are used to reduce refilling frequency, then productivity increases, but user effort and time to manually position them increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling efficiencyVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure automatically handles the positioning and orientation of large containers without requiring users to manually hold or position them. The mechanical design includes features that guide containers into the correct position and maintain vertical orientation, making the operation of large containers as easy as smaller ones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting structure provides mechanical support that counteracts the weight of large containers, eliminating the need for users to exert force to hold or position them. The structure bears the container weight throughout the refilling process, making container size irrelevant to user effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual positioning is used, then flexibility in handling different container sizes is maintained, but the risk of spills and faulty connections increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer handling flexibilityVSAvoidspills and faulty connections

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure serves as a mechanical intermediary that standardizes the interface between containers of different sizes and the refilling station. It provides consistent positioning and orientation guidance for all containers, ensuring that variations in container size do not lead to improper connections or spills.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting structure preemptively guides containers into the correct position and orientation before the refilling process begins. By establishing proper alignment in advance, it prevents faulty connections and spills from occurring during the refilling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Device complexity

If users manually manage container positioning, then no additional mechanical structures are needed, but device complexity increases due to the need for precise manual control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupporting structure complexityVSAvoidrefilling operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure is divided into simple, modular components that perform specific functions: a base for stability, vertical guides for positioning, and connection interfaces for containers. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while the overall system provides automated positioning and orientation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12521992B2Printing fluid container supporting structures

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

According to an example, a printing fluid container supporting structure comprise a frame and a pivoting element coupled to the frame and to a reference surface of a printing device. The pivoting element is to enable the frame to rotate between a folded position in which the frame is aligned with the reference surface of the printing device and a deployed position in which a plurality of printing fluid container receptacles of the frame is to support a plurality of printing fluid containers in a vertical position.