Plug Member With Rigid Holding Member For Liquid Ejecting Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, users often encounter issues with ink or liquid adhering to their fingers when opening and closing caps, leading to staining, and there is a risk of caps coming off accidentally due to direct handling.
Innovation Solution
A plug member with an elastically deformable plug body and a holding member of higher rigidity, featuring a lid part and a barrel part with support portions to prevent the plug body from detaching and reduce finger contact with liquid, is designed. This configuration includes a gripping portion for easy operation and a support structure to minimize liquid adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user directly grips and removes the cap with fingers, then the cap can be easily handled, but the ink of the cap adheres to the fingers and the user's hand is easily stained with the ink
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holding member as an intermediary between the user's finger and the cap. The holding member has a holding portion that contacts the cap and a gripping portion that the user holds, creating a barrier that prevents direct contact between the finger and the ink-containing cap, thus solving the staining problem while maintaining ease of operation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap is attached to a holding member to prevent direct finger contact, then the user's hand is less likely to be stained, but the cap may come off of the holding member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a curved or rounded contact surface in the holding portion that matches the shape of the cap's opening. This curved geometry creates a snug fit that prevents the cap from easily detaching while still allowing smooth rotational movement for opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member is pre-positioned with the holding portion oriented to receive the cap in its closed state. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the cap is installed, it is automatically secured in the correct orientation and position, preventing accidental detachment during use
3Reliability
If the cap is held in a holding portion inside the cover, then the user is prevented from forgetting to close the injection port, but the movement of the cover to the closed position is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cap-holding function from the cover structure by providing a separate holding member that can be attached to or integrated with the cover. The holding portion is specifically designed to hold the cap at the open position, while the gripping portion allows the cover to be moved independently, thus maintaining both the reminder function and cover operability
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
The solution effectively reduces the frequency of liquid adherence to fingers during operation and prevents the plug member from coming off, enhancing user safety and convenience by allowing easy handling and secure sealing of the injection port.
Implementation Method 1
a plug member (50) having an elastically deformable plug body (52)
Data Source
AI summary
A plug member is a plug member for covering a liquid injection port for injecting liquid to a liquid container portion of a liquid ejecting apparatus. The plug member includes an elastically deformable plug body, and a holding member that has a higher rigidity than the plug body and is for holding the plug body. The plug body includes a lid part for covering the liquid injection port and a barrel part extending from the lid part to the liquid container portion. The barrel part includes an end portion forming an opening at a side opposite to the lid part, and the holding member includes an engaging portion engageable with a shaft portion for rotating the holding member and a support portion that is provided at an engaging portion side of the end portion and is for supporting the end portion.