Rounded-Corner Ink Container Design for Complete Residue Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ink containers face challenges in achieving both adaptation to inks of arbitrary properties and reducing environmental load, as ink often remains in corner portions due to inadequate cleaning methods, particularly in containers made from biodegradable plastics.

Innovation Solution

The ink container design incorporates a rounded corner shape with a predetermined radius in the ink containing portion and optional additional features like multiple opening ports to enhance cleaning efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the opening of the ink containing bag is widened to improve washability, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but ink may still remain in corner portions depending on ink properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidcomplete removal of ink

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The corner portions of the ink containing bag are formed with a round shape having a predetermined radius instead of sharp corners. This curvature prevents ink from stagnating in corner regions during cleaning operations, allowing cleaning liquid to flow through more effectively and ensuring complete removal of ink residues regardless of ink properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ink container is designed for complete cleaning and reuse, then the adaptability to various ink properties is improved, but the environmental load reduction is compromised due to breaking requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to ink propertiesVSAvoidrecycling process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By forming round corner portions in the ink containing bag, the design enables complete cleaning of all internal surfaces including corners. This allows the same container to be reliably reused across different ink types without residual contamination, while the improved cleanability also facilitates simpler recycling processes by eliminating the need for breaking in many cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable plastics are used for the ink container to reduce environmental load, then the environmental friendliness is improved, but the cleaning effectiveness is reduced due to ink remaining in corner portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental loadVSAvoidcleaning completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The round corner portions are formed in the ink containing bag made from biodegradable plastics. This geometric modification ensures that cleaning liquid can effectively reach and remove ink from all internal surfaces including corner regions, maintaining complete cleaning effectiveness while preserving the environmental benefits of using biodegradable materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20250326230A1Ink container and cleaning method of ink container

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 CANON KK

AI summary

An ink container includes an ink containing portion configured to contain ink therein, and a first opening portion configured to allow an inside and an outside of the ink containing portion to communicate with each other, in which a corner portion inside the ink containing portion is formed to have a round shape of a ridge curve line of a predetermined radius. The ink container achieves both the adaptation to ink of arbitrary properties and the reduction of environmental load, and may contribute to realize a sustainable society such as a decarbonized/recycling society.