Printing Liquid Container with Capillary Leak-Containing Supply Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid containers for printing apparatuses face challenges in managing liquid leakage during attachment and detachment, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and increased costs due to the need for larger liquid holding members and additional structures like communicating grooves.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container design with a liquid holding unit on the inner peripheral surface of the supply port, utilizing a capillary force to absorb leaked liquid, where the length in the direction of attachment is greater than the length in directions intersecting with attachment, effectively capturing and containing leaked liquid without requiring additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid holding member is provided throughout a lower side of an ink bag to absorb leaking ink, then liquid leakage is suppressed, but the liquid container requires more space and increases manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid holding member is not distributed throughout the entire lower side of the ink bag, but is instead localized to specific positions where liquid leakage most commonly occurs. This selective placement provides effective leakage suppression while minimizing the space occupied by the liquid holding member, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and volume.
2Reliability
If a communicating groove is added to guide leaking ink to the liquid holding member, then liquid leakage is controlled, but the liquid container requires additional space and structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid holding member is integrated directly into the supply port unit structure, merging the functions of liquid guidance and liquid absorption into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate communicating grooves and reduces structural complexity while maintaining effective liquid leakage control.
3Reliability
If the liquid holding member extends in both anti-gravitational and gravitational directions from the supply port unit, then liquid absorption is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid holding member is positioned specifically on the gravitational direction side of the supply port unit, where liquid leakage naturally occurs due to gravity. This localized placement provides effective liquid absorption without requiring extension in both directions, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing space requirements.
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 design ensures reliable containment of leaked liquid, reduces contamination risk, and minimizes the size and cost of the liquid container by optimizing the liquid holding unit's placement and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid holding unit provided to an inner peripheral surface of the supply unit and capable of holding the liquid by using a capillary force
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid container attachable to a printing apparatus and configured to contain a liquid to be supplied to the printing apparatus, including: a container chamber configured to contain the liquid; a supply unit provided on a tip end side in a direction of attachment to be attached to the printing apparatus and configured to connect the container chamber to the printing apparatus; and a liquid holding unit provided to an inner peripheral surface of the supply unit and capable of holding the liquid by using a capillary force, the liquid leaking out in a case of attaching and detaching the liquid container to and from the printing apparatus, in which a length of the liquid holding unit in the direction of attachment of the liquid container is larger than a length of the liquid holding unit in a direction intersecting with the direction of attachment.