Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Tank Overflow Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face failures due to accidental leakage of ink from tanks, leading to potential clogging of air pumps and color mixing issues, particularly when the ink supply valve or liquid level sensor malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a configuration that includes a first tank, a second tank, and a circulation path, where the second tank has a second opening positioned lower than the first opening, allowing over-supplied ink to overflow through a second atmosphere opening valve, preventing it from reaching the second pressure adjusting unit and reducing the risk of pump failure and color mixing. Additionally, a main tank supplies ink continuously, and valves are designed to manage flow paths to minimize overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink is excessively supplied to the negative pressure side sub-tank due to valve or sensor failure, then the ink circulation system continues to operate, but the air pump draws in ink and fails
Solution Approach 1:
A gas-liquid separator is introduced as an intermediary component between the negative pressure side sub-tank and the air pump. This separator acts as a protective barrier that prevents ink from reaching the air pump while allowing the air circulation function to continue, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and pump reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-liquid separator is positioned in advance before the air pump to cushion against potential ink overflow. By placing this protective component beforehand in the flow path, the system prepares for possible failures of the ink supply valve or liquid level sensor, preventing ink from reaching the air pump even when excessive ink is supplied to the sub-tank
2Productivity
If ink is excessively supplied to the negative pressure side sub-tank, then the ink circulation system continues to operate, but color mixing occurs in the sub-tank
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-liquid separator serves as an intermediary that not only protects the air pump but also helps maintain ink composition stability. By separating gases from liquids and controlling the interface, it prevents turbulent mixing of different ink colors in the negative pressure side sub-tank, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and ink composition stability
3Device complexity
If a single opening is provided in the second tank for both pressure adjustment and atmosphere communication, then the device structure is simplified, but liquid may accidentally leak from the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The single opening in the second tank is segmented into two separate openings: one dedicated to pressure adjustment and another for atmosphere communication. This segmentation allows each opening to be optimized for its specific function and includes separate control mechanisms, preventing accidental leakage while maintaining relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different local qualities are assigned to different openings in the second tank. The first opening is equipped with specific pressure control characteristics while the second opening has atmosphere communication characteristics. This local differentiation ensures that each opening performs its function reliably without causing accidental liquid leakage, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and reliability
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
The solution effectively prevents ink overflow into the air pump and reduces the risk of color mixing, ensuring stable operation and continuous printing by managing ink flow and overflow through strategic valve and tank positioning.
Implementation Method 1
the second tank has a second opening arranged at a position lower than the first opening in the vertical direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first tank that stores liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejecting head, a second tank that receives liquid that has not been ejected by the liquid ejecting head, and a circulation path that circulates liquid. The second tank separately has a first opening that communicates with a second pressure adjusting unit that can depressurize the second tank and a second opening that communicates with a second atmosphere opening valve that switches the second tank between a sealed state and an atmosphere opening state. The second opening is arranged at a position lower than the first opening in a vertical direction.