Printer Carriage Layout for Short White Ink Supply Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers face challenges with liquids that easily reduce fluidity, such as white ink, due to sedimentation properties, requiring longer liquid paths which can lead to sedimentation issues.
Innovation Solution
The printer design includes multiple heads, a sub-carriage, a carriage with a temporary stand, and branch paths that are positioned to minimize liquid path lengths, with the branch and temporary stand disposed on one side of the carriage's moving direction, and the sub-carriage on the opposite side, reducing sedimentation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If white ink is supplied through long liquid paths to multiple heads, then the printing device can perform preliminary base treatment and color printing, but the liquid path becomes long causing sedimentation and reduced fluidity
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid supply system is divided into multiple independent liquid paths, with each head having its own dedicated path from the liquid container. This segmentation prevents the need for long common liquid paths that would cause sedimentation, while still enabling multiple printing functions including base treatment and color printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid container is positioned above the carriage assembly, creating a vertical arrangement where liquids flow downward through short paths to multiple heads arranged horizontally. This dimensional change allows multiple heads to be supplied from a single container without requiring long horizontal liquid paths.
2Ease of repair
If multiple heads are mounted on a sub-carriage that can be detached, then maintenance and head replacement become easier, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage assembly is segmented into a main carriage and a detachable sub-carriage. The sub-carriage holds multiple heads and can be easily removed and replaced as a unit, simplifying maintenance while the modular design keeps the overall system manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable sub-carriage design serves multiple functions: it enables easy head replacement, allows for simplified maintenance procedures, and provides a standardized interface for different head configurations. This multi-functionality justifies the additional structural elements.
3Length of stationary object
If the branch and temporary stand are disposed on one side of the carriage, then the liquid path length is reduced, but the device layout becomes asymmetric
Solution Approach 1:
The device deliberately employs an asymmetric layout where the branch and temporary stand are positioned on one side of the carriage while the sub-carriage is positioned on the opposite side. This asymmetric arrangement minimizes liquid path lengths and is accepted as a practical design solution rather than attempting symmetric balance.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes multiple heads to discharge liquids; a sub-carriage mounting the multiple heads; a carriage movable in a moving direction and detachably mounting the sub-carriage; a liquid container containing the liquids supplied to the multiple heads; a temporary stand on the carriage to temporarily hold the sub-carriage; and a branch having multiple branch paths to distribute the liquids from the liquid container to the multiple heads. The branch and the temporary stand are disposed at a first side of the carriage in the moving direction. The sub-carriage is disposed at a second side opposite to the first side of the carriage in the moving direction.