Printing Reservoir Optical Data Module and Pressure Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing devices face challenges with complex and costly reservoir systems, particularly in industrial settings, due to issues like contamination of electrical contacts, precise mechanical alignment, and pressure fluctuations affecting inkjet printer performance, leading to increased manufacturing and operating costs as well as downtime.
Innovation Solution
A reservoir system with a base body that serves as both the line system and a mounting plate, featuring channels and a sealing element to reduce complexity, prevent contamination, and dampen pressure fluctuations, allowing for cost-effective manufacturing and service-friendly operation, while enabling contactless data exchange and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If electrical contacts are used for data exchange between reservoir and printing device, then data communication is enabled, but contact surfaces are vulnerable to contamination and oxidation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical contact system with an optical communication system. The reservoir contains an optical communication device with a light guide that transmits data optically to the printing device, eliminating physical electrical contacts and their susceptibility to contamination and oxidation.
2Reliability
If precise mechanical alignment is required for contact surfaces, then data exchange reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the precision mechanical alignment system with an optical alignment system. The optical communication device uses light transmission instead of mechanical contact, significantly reducing the precision requirements for alignment and simplifying the receiving device design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional reservoir systems are used with separate line systems and mounting plates, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the line system and mounting plate into a single integrated base body. The base body contains integrated channels for fluid transport and provides mounting surfaces for reservoir components, eliminating the need for separate line systems and mounting plates, thereby reducing manufacturing steps and costs.
4Loss of information
If electrical contacts are exposed during reservoir installation, then data exchange is possible, but contamination risk from ink and solvents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical contacts with an optical communication device that uses light transmission through a light guide. This eliminates the exposed electrical contacts that are vulnerable to contamination from aggressive inks and solvents, as the optical system does not require physical electrical contact points.
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 solution simplifies the reservoir system, reducing errors and costs, ensuring consistent pressure conditions for improved print quality, and allowing for the reuse of reservoirs through contactless data exchange and reduced precision requirements during installation.
Implementation Method 1
a volume delimited by the at least one compensating volume can be changed by compression and/or decompression of the at least one damping body
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a reservoir for a printing device, comprising a data module which has a transmitter and/or receiver unit for contactless communication with a printing device, the reservoir being transferable from a first to a second operating state by applying negative pressure to an interior of the reservoir, and the outer body of the reservoir having a shape in the second operating state that is different from the first operating state and/or the outer body of the reservoir consisting at least to some extent of a mixture of an HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and an LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene). The invention also relates to a method for emptying the reservoir, which is initially in the first operating state. According to the invention, a normal direction of the data module has a first orientation and the reservoir is transferred to the second operating state by applying negative pressure to the interior of the reservoir, in which second operating state the normal direction of the data module has a second orientation that differs from the normal direction in the first operating state by not more than 60°.