Sliding Needle Fluid Interface Device for Sealed Reservoir Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers face challenges in maintaining a sealed and pressurized fluid delivery system, particularly during the refilling of the printing fluid reservoir, which can lead to issues like fluid leakage, contamination, overfilling, and evaporation, especially in sealed and pressurized systems like inkjet and electrophotographic printers.
Innovation Solution
A fluid interface device with a sliding needle mechanism that is biased to a closed position to maintain the seal and pressure, allowing fluid transfer only when engaged with a fluid container, and automatically returns to the closed position after refilling, preventing fluid flow and maintaining the system's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the reservoir is kept open for refilling, then fluid transfer is enabled, but fluid leakage and contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-positioned in a closed state within the reservoir before refilling begins. The refilling process is initiated by inserting the fluid container, which automatically triggers the needle to transition to an open state, enabling fluid transfer only when needed and preventing premature leakage or contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding needle acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sealed reservoir and the external fluid container. It controls the interface between the internal pressurized environment and the external atmosphere, allowing fluid transfer while maintaining system integrity and preventing contamination during the refilling operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the reservoir is sealed to prevent contamination, then fluid protection is improved, but refilling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The needle transitions from a static closed position to a dynamic open position through sliding motion along the reservoir axis. This dynamic mechanism allows the reservoir to maintain its sealed state during normal operation while automatically opening to accept refilling when a fluid container is inserted, combining protection with operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The refilling mechanism is self-activating through the insertion of the fluid container, which automatically triggers the needle to slide to the open position. The system serves itself by detecting the presence of the fluid container and initiating the refilling process without requiring manual intervention to open the seal, maintaining both protection and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If pressure is maintained in the fluid delivery system, then fluid flow control is improved, but leakage during refilling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-configured in a closed position that maintains the pressurized seal before refilling. The pressurized fluid flow control is preserved until the exact moment when the fluid container is inserted, at which point the needle automatically transitions to allow controlled refilling, preventing leakage during both sealed and refilling states.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding needle serves as a pressure-controlled intermediary that responds to the insertion of the fluid container. It maintains the pressurized seal during normal operation and automatically transitions to an open state when needed, enabling controlled fluid transfer while preventing uncontrolled leakage that would compromise pressure integrity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a reservoir cap is used to seal the opening, then fluid protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional external reservoir cap is extracted and replaced by an internal sliding needle mechanism integrated directly into the reservoir wall. This eliminates the need for separate capping components and their associated sealing interfaces, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining fluid protection through the needle's closed position during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function previously performed by a separate reservoir cap is merged with the needle mechanism itself. The needle both controls fluid flow and provides the sealing function, combining two functions into a single integrated component that reduces part count and simplifies the overall sealing mechanism while maintaining protection during both operation and refilling.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluid interface device (106) is described. The device includes a collar (110) to receive a fluid container (104). The collar has an aperture in one end surface. A needle (108) of the fluid interface device passes through the aperture and allows fluid to pass from the fluid container (104) into a reservoir (102). The needle is slideable within the aperture from a dosed position to an open position upon reception of the fluid container. A seal (212) is radially disposed around the needle (108) and seals against the end surface of the collar (110) when the needle is in the dosed position.