Shielded Waste Ink Tank Insertion Port for Clean Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing waste ink tanks pose a risk of ink adhesion to hands and clothes during replacement due to exposure of the discharge opening when removed from the storage portion.

Innovation Solution

A waste ink tank design featuring a movable shielding portion that can switch between shielding and open positions, combined with a discharge member for inserting and pulling out, ensuring proper handling and minimizing ink exposure during replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the waste ink tank is removed from the storage portion, then the discharge opening is exposed and accessible, but waste ink may adhere to hands and clothes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of discharge openingVSAvoidWaste ink adhesion to hands and clothes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding portion is designed to be movable between a shielding position (when the waste ink tank is installed) and an open position (when removed), allowing dynamic adaptation to different operational states. This resolves the contradiction by providing protection when needed while maintaining accessibility when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding portion acts as an intermediary element between the discharge opening and the user's hands/clothes. It blocks the direct contact path while still allowing the discharge opening to be accessed through the shielded area, thus preventing ink adhesion without completely blocking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a shielding member is added to prevent ink adhesion, then waste ink protection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveWaste ink protectionVSAvoidStructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding portion is merged with the waste ink tank body as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This combining approach provides the necessary protection while minimizing additional structural complexity, as the shielding function is built into the existing tank design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding portion can be implemented as a flexible shield or thin film structure that covers the discharge opening. This approach provides effective protection against ink adhesion while maintaining simplicity in design and avoiding the need for complex rigid shielding mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12576645B2Waste ink tank and printing apparatus in which the tank includes a substantially box-shaped container provided with an insertion port that can be shielded

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 CANON KK

AI summary

A waste ink tank including a container portion that is substantially box-shaped and is provided with an insertion port, into which a discharge member discharging waste ink can be inserted and pulled out from, and a shielding portion movable between a shielding position where the insertion port is shielded and an open position where the insertion port is opened. The insertion port is provided on a side surface of the box-shaped container portion.