Print Liquid Supply Interconnect With Keyed Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pliable reservoirs used in ejection devices for dispensing liquids are difficult to handle and couple with ejection devices due to their form and size, leading to complex and unsatisfactory user experiences, especially when handling large or heavy supplies.
Innovation Solution
A print liquid supply interconnect system with keyed slots and protrusions that securely align and connect with the ejection device, featuring a retractable plate and actuators to protect needles and interfaces, allowing for easy and secure coupling of various-sized print liquid supplies, including large and heavy ones, by ensuring only matching protrusions can insert and activate the connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pliable reservoirs are used for print liquid supply, then the reservoirs can be made in various sizes and shapes to accommodate different volumes, but they become difficult to handle and couple with ejection devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a stationary interconnect housing attached to the ejection device, and a movable interconnect assembly that couples to the reservoir. This segmentation allows the flexible reservoir to be handled independently from the ejection device, solving the handling difficulty while maintaining size adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interconnect assembly acts as an intermediary between the pliable reservoir and the ejection device. It provides a stable coupling interface that translates the flexibility of the reservoir into a secure mechanical connection, making coupling easy despite the reservoir's pliable nature.
2Quantity of substance
If large and heavy print liquid supplies are used, then the volume of liquid available increases, but the user experience deteriorates due to difficulty in handling
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the heavy reservoir from the ejection device through the interconnect assembly, the system allows users to handle only the lightweight interconnect during operation, while the heavy reservoir remains stationary or is easily positioned elsewhere, improving user experience despite large liquid volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The interconnect assembly extracts the coupling function from the reservoir itself, allowing the reservoir to be a simple container that can be filled to any volume without compromising handling ease. The complex coupling mechanism is taken out and placed in the interconnect housing.
3Reliability
If a secure connection mechanism is implemented with keyed slots and protrusions, then alignment accuracy and connection reliability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyed slots and protrusions use asymmetric geometry to ensure correct alignment and prevent incorrect coupling. This simple asymmetric feature provides reliable mechanical guidance and connection without requiring complex alignment mechanisms or multiple components.
4Reliability
If retractable plates and actuators are added to protect needles and interfaces, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable plate is positioned in advance to cover and protect the needles and electrical interfaces before coupling occurs. This preliminary protective action prevents damage during insertion and removal operations without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to be automatically actuated by the insertion motion itself, rather than requiring separate control. The mechanical action of inserting the protrusions into keyed slots automatically triggers the retraction of the protective plate, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, at least one print liquid supply interconnected is described. Each print liquid supply interconnect includes a housing movable relative to a printer and tethered via a feed hose to the printer. The housing includes at least one needle to be inserted in a print liquid supply to allow print liquid to move between the print liquid supply and an ejection device and two keyed slots disposed on either side of a first needle to gate insertion to a print liquid supply with protrusions that match the two keyed slots. The housing also includes a guide feature adjacent the first needle extending between a first keyed slot and the first needle and an electrical interface to establish a data transmission path between the print liquid supply and the ejection device, the electrical interface disposed between the first needle and a second keyed slot.