Rotatable Casing Ink Supply System for Compact Recording Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses have a large ink supply system due to long pipes connecting main tanks and subsidiary tanks across two casings, resulting in a bulky design.
Innovation Solution
A compact recording apparatus with a rotatable second casing that houses the recording head and first tank, allowing for a detachable second tank and liquid transfer mechanism, reducing the size of the ink supply system by positioning components to minimize pipe length and optimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If main tanks and subsidiary tanks are placed in separate casings, then component separation is achieved, but pipe length increases and system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the main tank and subsidiary tank into a single integrated tank structure where the subsidiary tank is positioned within the same casing as the main tank. This eliminates the need for long connecting pipes between separate casings, thereby reducing the overall system size and pipe length while maintaining functional separation through internal positioning.
2Length of stationary object
If tanks are integrated in one casing, then pipe length is reduced, but component accessibility and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tank system into a main tank and a subsidiary tank that can be independently accessed. The subsidiary tank is positioned such that it can be removed or accessed separately from the main tank, allowing maintenance personnel to service the recording head and subsidiary tank without disassembling the entire system, thus maintaining ease of repair while achieving compact integration.
3Ease of operation
If recording head is positioned far from first casing, then maintenance access is improved, but liquid supply efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the recording head in a location that is accessible from the front of the apparatus while maintaining optimal liquid supply distance through three-dimensional spatial arrangement. The subsidiary tank is positioned above and behind the recording head, allowing gravity-assisted liquid flow while the recording head remains accessible from the front, thus resolving the contradiction between maintenance access and liquid supply efficiency through spatial optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
In a recording apparatus, a first casing holds a supporting portion. A second casing holds a recording head and a first tank. The second casing is connected to the first casing so as to be rotatable relative to the first casing about a prescribed axis, the second casing being configured to move between a first position and a second position by rotating relative to the first casing, the recording head being located adjacent to the first casing when the second casing is in the first position, the recording head being further apart from the first casing when the second casing is in the second position than when the second casing is in the first position. The recording head opposes the supporting portion when the second casing is in the first position. The second casing is provided with a second tank mounting portion and a liquid transferring portion.