Reverse-Connected Ink Cartridge Mounting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink cartridge mounting systems in ink-jet printers face challenges such as limited miniaturization due to space constraints, potential damage to contact pins and ink leakage, unstable fastening leading to poor contact and sealing, and ink splashing during removal, primarily due to the need for excessive space and rotation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A reverse-connected ink cartridge design featuring a housing with an operating structure and abutting component, where the ink supply port is located at the bottom, and a first cartridge-side positioning structure that extends from the operating structure, allowing for engagement with a mounting structure without large angle rotations, and a spring for elastic support, facilitating stable and compact mounting and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotating shaft is located between the operating member and the engaging structure, then the lever can rotate to disengage the cartridge, but the space between the cartridge and lever becomes excessively large, preventing miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional lever mechanism by positioning the engaging structure adjacent to the operating member rather than at opposite ends. This inversion eliminates the need for a long lever arm and rotating shaft, allowing the cartridge to be removed by a small rotational movement that does not require excessive space, thereby enabling miniaturization of the printer while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a linear configuration (operating member - rotating shaft - engaging structure) to a compact planar configuration where the operating member and engaging structure are positioned adjacent to each other. This dimensional reorganization allows the disengagement mechanism to function within a much smaller volume, solving the contradiction between operational ease and miniaturization
2Ease of operation
If the lever rotates counterclockwise to disengage the cartridge, then the engaging structure moves towards the negative Z-axis, but this requires reserving excessive space in the negative Z-axis direction, which is unfavorable for miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric engaging structure where the engagement surface is inclined rather than perpendicular to the movement direction. This asymmetric design allows the cartridge to be disengaged by a small rotational movement that produces minimal displacement in the negative Z-axis direction, eliminating the need to reserve excessive space in that direction while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing the lever to rotate in a direction that creates large negative Z-axis displacement, the patent inverts the approach by positioning the engaging structure such that the required rotational movement naturally produces minimal displacement in the problematic direction, thereby solving the space constraint issue
3Volume of moving object
If space is reserved in the negative Z-axis direction for cartridge removal, then the ink supply port and ink supply tube cannot be completely sealed, causing ink leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional design by eliminating the need for large negative Z-axis space through compact mechanism arrangement. This inversion allows the ink supply port and tube to be completely sealed without requiring excessive clearance space, thereby preventing ink leakage while maintaining operational functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealing structure as an intermediary element between the ink supply port and the external environment. This sealing mechanism ensures complete sealing of the ink supply path even in the compact space configuration, preventing ink leakage without requiring excessive space in the negative Z-axis direction
4Ease of operation
If the ink cartridge moves in the negative Z-axis direction during removal, then it applies greater compression force to the elastic contact member, but this causes the elastic contact member to apply excessively large elastic force, ejecting the cartridge high and causing ink splashing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional removal mechanism by eliminating the large negative Z-axis movement. Instead, the cartridge is disengaged through a small rotational movement that applies minimal compression force to the elastic contact member, preventing excessive ejection and ink splashing while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic engagement mechanism where the engaging structure can be quickly released through rotation, allowing the elastic contact member to maintain steady contact force during normal operation but release the cartridge gently during removal, thereby preventing excessive ejection and ink splashing
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
Enables efficient and compact mounting and removal of ink cartridges, preventing ink leakage and damage, while maintaining stable contact and sealing, even in constrained spaces, thus allowing for miniaturization of both the cartridge and the printer.
Implementation Method 1
a spring for elastic support
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention provides a reverse-connected ink cartridge, a method for mounting, and a method for removing. According to the reverse-connected ink cartridge, an ink supply port (11) is provided at the bottom of a housing (1), a plane of the ink supply port (11) is a first plane (1a), a long edge direction of the first plane (1a) is an X-axis, a short edge direction is a Y-axis, and an axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis is a Z-axis; and the housing (1) is connected to an operating structure (2) and an abutting component (3), another end of the operating structure (2) extends away from the housing (1) on the X-axis and towards the first plane (1a) on the Z-axis, a first cartridge-side positioning structure (4) extends from the another end of the operating structure (2) towards the housing (1) on the X-axis, and the abutting component (3) is located on a same side of the housing (1) as the another end of the operating structure (2) in an X-axis direction. In a mounting process of the ink cartridge designed in the present invention, a lever body does not need to rotate by a relatively large angle. In this way, even though space between the ink cartridge and the lever body is relatively small, mounting and removal of the ink cartridge can still be completed. In addition, this is favorable to miniaturize the ink cartridge and a printer.