Rigid Partition Wall for Liquid Supply Apparatus Defoaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face printing failures due to air bubbles in the ink, which are not efficiently degassed, leading to issues like dot missing, and current solutions using gas permeable films lack strength and efficiency in degassing.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply apparatus with a rigid partition wall between the defoaming and depressurization chambers, allowing gas permeability while maintaining strength, ensures efficient degassing of air bubbles by configuring the partition with varying thickness and area to optimize gas permeation and ink flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a gas permeable film is used as a partition wall between the defoaming chamber and depressurization chamber, then gas permeability is improved and defoaming efficiency is enhanced, but the strength and structural integrity of the partition wall deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies at different locations. Specifically, the partition wall has a first thickness in the region facing the defoaming chamber and a second thickness in the region facing the depressurization chamber, with the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. This local variation in thickness allows the partition wall to provide sufficient strength in regions requiring structural integrity while maintaining gas permeability in regions where gas transport is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the partition wall by varying its thickness across different regions. This parameter change enables the partition wall to simultaneously satisfy conflicting requirements: maintaining adequate strength to withstand pressure differences while providing sufficient gas permeability for effective defoaming. The thickness variation optimizes the balance between mechanical strength and gas transport properties.
2Productivity
If the thickness of the gas permeable film is uniformly decreased throughout, then defoaming efficiency is improved, but the strength of the partition wall cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly decreasing the thickness throughout the partition wall, the invention applies local quality by having different thicknesses in different regions. The partition wall has a first thickness in the defoaming chamber-facing region and a second thickness in the depressurization chamber-facing region, with the first thickness being greater than the second. This allows optimized gas permeability where needed while maintaining structural strength where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the partition wall from a uniform value to a variable value across different regions. This parameter variation enables the partition wall to achieve both high defoaming efficiency (through sufficient gas permeability) and adequate structural strength (through increased thickness in critical regions), resolving the contradiction between productivity and strength.
3Strength
If a rigid partition wall is used instead of a flexible film, then the strength and ease of attachment are improved, but the gas permeability and defoaming efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the rigid partition wall, creating a non-uniform thickness profile where the thickness varies between regions. This parameter change allows the rigid partition wall to maintain its structural strength and ease of attachment while providing sufficient gas permeability through the thinner region facing the depressurization chamber, thus achieving both strength and gas permeability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is designed with local quality by having different thicknesses in different regions. The region facing the depressurization chamber has a smaller thickness to facilitate gas permeation, while the region facing the defoaming chamber has a greater thickness to ensure structural strength. This local differentiation allows the rigid partition wall to simultaneously satisfy both strength and gas permeability 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 solution effectively degases air bubbles from the defoaming chamber to the depressurization chamber, ensuring robust operation and preventing ink discharge issues during printing, while maintaining the strength of the partition wall.
Implementation Method 1
the partition allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
a chamber (depressurizing chamber) depressurized using a pump is provided to oppose the common liquid chamber with the gas permeable film interposed therebetween. In addition, the inside of the chamber is depressurized by the pump, a pressure difference between the common liquid chamber and the chamber is generated
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including: a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, and wherein the partition is configured by a partition wall having rigidity.