Recycled Plastic Liquid Container Cover With Convex Impact Buffer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Recycled plastic materials used in large-capacity liquid storage containers for inkjet recording apparatuses exhibit lower impact absorption properties, leading to potential chipping or breaking of protruding portions upon accidental drops, which can destabilize the connection with the apparatus.

Innovation Solution

A liquid storage container design incorporating a tank cover made of recycled plastic material with a convex-shaped bent portion to absorb external impacts, enhancing impact strength and protecting functional parts from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If recycled plastic materials are used for molding large-capacity liquid storage containers, then environmental sustainability is improved, but impact absorption performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidimpact absorption performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing a tank cover with a bent portion that serves as a pre-positioned shock-absorbing structure. When the container is dropped, this bent portion deforms to absorb impact energy before it reaches the vulnerable protruding portions, thereby compensating for the inherently lower impact absorption properties of recycled plastic materials while maintaining environmental sustainability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating impact absorption functionality in a specific local structure - the bent portion of the tank cover - rather than requiring the entire container to have high impact strength. This localized approach allows the use of recycled materials for the main container body while providing enhanced protection at the critical impact zone, resolving the contradiction between environmental benefits and overall impact performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If recycled plastic materials are used for molding, then material sustainability is improved, but molecular chain integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial sustainabilityVSAvoidmolecular chain integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bent portion structure serves as a sacrificial element that absorbs impact energy through controlled deformation, protecting the molecular chains in the main container body from the shearing forces that would otherwise cause further degradation. This beforehand protection mechanism allows the use of recycled materials with already-compromised molecular integrity while preventing additional damage during impact events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the container has protruding portions for connection, then connection functionality is improved, but vulnerability to impact damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection functionalityVSAvoidvulnerability to impact damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bent portion of the tank cover acts as an intermediary protective element between the external impact environment and the vulnerable protruding connection portions. When impact occurs, the bent portion deforms to absorb energy, serving as a buffer that protects the functional protruding portions from direct impact forces, thereby maintaining connection functionality while reducing vulnerability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 maintains high impact strength and prevents cracking of functional parts, ensuring stable connection with the inkjet recording apparatus even when subjected to accidental drops.

Implementation Method 1

a convex-shaped bent portion 11 to absorb external impacts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4588670A1Liquid storage container
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 CANON KK
  • EP4588670A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4588670A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4588670A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid storage container includes a storage member having a storage unit for storing a liquid and a supply unit for supplying the liquid stored in the storage unit to an outside, and a protective member capable of being assembled to one end portion of the storage member, wherein the protective member contains a recycled plastic material or a resin material mixed with a recycled plastic material, and has an opening configured to expose the supply unit, and wherein as the liquid storage container is viewed from a side on which the supply unit is provided, a central portion of a first side surface that is farthest from the supply unit exposed through the opening among side surfaces of the protective member has a convex shape in a direction farther away from the supply unit than an end portion.