Solid Ink Pellet Container Agitating Delivery Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid-ink pellets in containers tend to bridge or clump due to static charge, obstructing consistent flow to image-forming devices, requiring cumbersome manual agitation to break up obstructions.
Innovation Solution
A system with a delivery tube and agitating structure, featuring elongated arms and shear bar structures, rotates to disturb pellets and maintain flowability, combined with a suction force to extract pellets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If solid-ink pellets are stored in a container for extended periods, then the container can supply ink for multiple printing operations, but the pellets tend to bridge or clump together due to static charge, obstructing consistent flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a rotatable delivery tube that can be manually or automatically rotated to agitate and redistribute stored solid-ink pellets. This mechanical motion prevents the pellets from maintaining static positions that lead to bridging and clumping, thereby maintaining consistent flow reliability over extended storage periods while preserving the benefit of bulk storage capacity
2Reliability
If manual agitation is used to break up bridges and clumps of solid-ink pellets, then flowability can be restored, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the delivery tube with built-in agitation capability through rotation. The system can automatically or manually rotate the delivery tube to break up bridges and clumps without requiring external manual intervention. This integrates the agitation function directly into the delivery mechanism, making the system self-sufficient for maintaining pellet flowability while eliminating cumbersome manual operations
3Productivity
If a vacuum source continuously pulls solid-ink pellets from the container, then consistent delivery to the image-forming device is maintained, but bridges and clumps obstruct the flow and reduce effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by rotating the delivery tube before or during the vacuum extraction process to pre-agitate and redistribute the solid-ink pellets. This preliminary mechanical action breaks up potential bridges and clumps before the vacuum source attempts to pull the pellets, ensuring that the vacuum operation encounters minimal obstruction and can maintain consistent delivery and flow continuity
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
Ensures consistent and automated flow of solid-ink pellets to image-forming devices, eliminating the need for manual agitation and preventing flow obstructions.
Implementation Method 1
A vacuum source pulls the solid-ink pellets from an extraction point of the container, using a vacuum tube
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for supplying solid-ink pellets from a container to an image-forming device. The system includes a delivery tube within the container, with one or more openings to receive solid-ink pellets from the container. An agitating structure coupled to the delivery tube disturbs the solid ink pellets. The movement of the delivery tube moves the agitating structure, resulting in disturbing the solid-ink pellets and maintaining flowability of the pellets to the image-forming device.