Printing Device Liquid Inlet Structure for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing devices require users to manually fill liquid containers, which can be inconvenient and may lead to issues like liquid leakage and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a liquid receiving portion with a larger outer end opening than the inner end opening, allowing for easier liquid addition, and a seal member to prevent leakage, along with a compact layout of liquid containers and a movable image reading device to facilitate filling without opening the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the liquid inlet opening is made small to prevent leakage and save space, then reliability and compactness are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot easily align the liquid adding member with the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is divided into two distinct parts: the inner end opening that opens into the liquid containing chamber and the outer end opening that opens to the exterior. This segmentation allows each opening to serve a different function - the inner opening maintains small size for leakage prevention while the outer opening provides large alignment area for easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, creating a multi-dimensional configuration. The outer end opening is positioned at a different location and orientation than the inner end opening, allowing the opening formation wall portion to extend horizontally or diagonally to provide both compact inner access and exterior alignment space.
2Area of stationary object
If the liquid container size is reduced to optimize space usage, then device compactness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because there is insufficient space for users to easily position the liquid adding member
Solution Approach 1:
The opening formation wall portion extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, utilizing horizontal or diagonal space rather than only vertical space. This allows the outer end opening to be positioned at the end of this extended wall, providing adequate alignment space without increasing the overall footprint of the liquid container in the vertical dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure is segmented into inner and outer ends with the outer end opening providing the alignment space while the inner end opening provides access to the chamber. This segmentation allows the alignment function and containment function to be separated in space, enabling compact overall design while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the outer end opening is made large to facilitate alignment and liquid addition, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The opening formation wall portion serves multiple functions: it forms both the inner end opening and the outer end opening, provides structural support for the liquid container, and creates the extended geometry that enables alignment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate alignment structures or additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner end opening and outer end opening are merged into a single continuous opening structure formed by the opening formation wall portion. This unified structure simplifies manufacturing and assembly compared to having separate openings or alignment mechanisms, while still providing the benefits of both small inner access and large outer alignment area.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing device that is provided with: a printing unit that uses a liquid to perform printing on a medium; a liquid storage body that has a liquid storage chamber that can store liquid that is supplied to the printing unit; and a liquid reception unit that has an inner-end opening that opens at the liquid storage chamber and an outer-end opening that is on the opposite side from the inner-end opening. The liquid storage chamber can receive liquid via the liquid reception unit. The liquid storage body has an opening-forming wall part that forms the inner-end opening. The size of the outer-end opening in one direction is the same or larger than the width of the opening-forming wall part in the one direction.