Printhead Liquid Supply Layout for High-Capacity Compact Printers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently utilizing space to accommodate large-capacity containers and intermediate tanks, leading to bulkiness and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus is designed with storage portions and intermediate tanks arranged in a height direction, and these are crossed by storage and intermediate tanks in different directions, optimizing the layout to minimize space usage while increasing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the capacity of the container or intermediate tank is increased, then the number of sheets to be printed or print time is improved, but the apparatus becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional horizontal arrangement of containers and intermediate tanks to a three-dimensional configuration where storage portions are arranged in the height direction while intermediate tanks are arranged in crossing directions. This spatial reorganization allows increased capacity without proportional increase in apparatus footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and apparatus size.
2Area of stationary object
If containers are arranged in the widthwise direction, then space utilization is improved, but the apparatus becomes bulky in the width direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the arrangement of storage portions from the widthwise direction to the height direction, utilizing vertical space instead of horizontal space. This dimensional shift allows efficient space utilization while preventing the apparatus from becoming bulky in the width direction, as the intermediate tanks are arranged in crossing directions rather than extending the width.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes first and second storage portions configured to store first and second containers that store a liquid to be supplied to a printhead that discharges the liquid to a print medium, a first intermediate tank configured to, between the printhead and the first container, store the liquid to be supplied from the first container to the printhead, and a second intermediate tank configured to, between the printhead and the second container, store the liquid to be supplied from the second container to the printhead The first and second storage portions are arranged in a height direction of the printing apparatus. The first and second intermediate tanks are arranged in a first direction crossing the height direction. The first and second storage portions, and the first and second intermediate tanks arranged in a second direction crossing the height direction and the first direction.