Residual Liquid Collection Container Using Pressure-Driven Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharging apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, face the challenge of liquid leakage during disposal due to residual liquid in liquid accommodation containers, leading to environmental pollution, and there is no effective mechanism to collect this residual liquid during disposal, transportation, or maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A liquid collecting device comprising a pressure generator and a liquid collection container that is coupled to the liquid accommodation container, using a pressure generator to move residual liquid into the collection container through dedicated port portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a liquid replenishment type liquid accommodation container is used, then the liquid tank can be refilled with liquid, but liquid may leak through the pouring port portion when the apparatus is tilted or discarded

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverefillabilityVSAvoidleak prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the liquid collection function from the liquid accommodation container by providing a separate liquid collection container. This allows the main container to maintain its refillability while the extracted collection container handles the residual liquid, preventing leakage through the pouring port portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid collection container acts as an intermediary between the liquid accommodation container and the external environment. It receives residual liquid through a communication port, preventing it from leaking through the pouring port portion when the apparatus is tilted or discarded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the liquid discharging apparatus is discarded with the liquid accommodation container fixed thereto, then the apparatus can be disposed of as a complete unit, but residual liquid may leak causing environmental pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful residual liquid into a beneficial resource by providing a collection container that captures and stores it. This prevents environmental pollution while maintaining the simplicity of disposing the entire apparatus as a complete unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid collection container is prepared in advance within the apparatus structure, ready to collect residual liquid before disposal. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the apparatus is discarded, no liquid leakage occurs, preventing environmental pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a liquid collection container is provided to collect residual liquid, then liquid leakage can be prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the liquid collection container with the existing liquid accommodation container structure, allowing both functions to coexist in a integrated manner. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective leak prevention through the communication port mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively collects residual liquid from liquid accommodation containers, preventing leakage and environmental pollution, and facilitating safe disposal, transportation, and maintenance of liquid discharging apparatuses.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure generator that is provided separately from the liquid collection container and that generates a pressure that causes the liquid in the liquid accommodation container to move into the liquid collection container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20260034796A1Liquid collecting device and liquid collection container

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid collecting device collects a liquid remaining in a liquid accommodation container. The liquid accommodation container includes a plurality of port portions including a pouring port portion and a supply port portion. The supply port portion is a port portion through which the liquid can be supplied to a liquid discharger that discharges the liquid. The liquid collecting device includes a liquid collection container and a pressure generator. The liquid collection container includes a collection port portion configured such that the collection port portion can be coupled to a port portion of the liquid accommodation container. The pressure generator is provided separately from the liquid collection container and generates a pressure that causes the liquid in the liquid accommodation container to move into the liquid collection container through the port portion and the collection port portion coupled to each other.