Ink Supplier Reservoirs with Tilted Surfaces for Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink used in ink-jet printing apparatuses, particularly water-based inks, are prone to agglomeration due to air bubble formation and contact with outside air, which is exacerbated by circulation systems with horizontal and vertical reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
The ink supplier employs a tilted cylindrical design for both supply and collection reservoirs, allowing air bubbles to move into vertical reservoirs without the need for additional pipes, and uses resin materials to reduce agglomeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a circulation system with horizontal and vertical reservoirs is employed to reduce ink stagnation, then ink circulation is improved, but air bubbles are generated and mixed into the horizontal reservoir causing agglomeration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes air bubbles from the ink circulation system by providing a dedicated air bubble removal port in the vertical reservoir. This allows air bubbles to be separated from the ink and discharged to the outside, preventing them from contaminating the horizontal reservoir and causing agglomeration while maintaining the circulation system's productivity benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical reservoir serves as an intermediary structure between the horizontal reservoir and the outside environment. It acts as a transition zone where air bubbles can rise and be removed through the air bubble removal port, preventing direct contamination of the ink in the horizontal reservoir while maintaining circulation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air pipes are used to discharge air bubbles from the horizontal reservoir, then air bubble removal is achieved, but ink agglomeration is caused by contact with gas in the air pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air bubble removal function from the horizontal reservoir and relocates it to the vertical reservoir. By providing an air bubble removal port in the vertical reservoir, air bubbles are removed from the system without requiring air pipes that would cause ink to contact gas and agglomerate
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a functional copy of the air removal capability in the vertical reservoir rather than using air pipes in the horizontal reservoir. The vertical reservoir with its air bubble removal port replicates the air removal function without the harmful side effect of ink-gas contact in horizontal pipes
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
This design effectively removes air bubbles and reduces ink agglomeration, particularly for water-based inks, by utilizing the natural flow of air bubbles into gas layers in vertical reservoirs and minimizing contact with air, thus preventing agglomeration and enhancing ink stability.
Implementation Method 1
A top surface from the other end of the first horizontal reservoir to the first opening is tilted from a horizontal direction at an angle of tilt equal to or greater than 0.3° in such a manner as to extend upward from the other end toward the one end
Implementation Method 2
air bubbles move into vertical reservoirs without the need for additional pipes
Data Source
AI summary
An ink supplier includes a supply reservoir that stores ink to be supplied to a plurality of heads in an ink-jet printing apparatus. The supply reservoir includes: a first horizontal reservoir of a cylindrical shape having a plurality of supply ports communicating with a plurality of heads; and a first vertical reservoir having a side surface provided with a first opening directly or indirectly communicating with one end of the first horizontal reservoir. A top surface of the first horizontal reservoir is tilted from a horizontal direction at an angle of tilt equal to or greater than 0.3° in such a manner as to extend upward from the other end toward the first opening or the one end. Thus, air bubbles in the first horizontal reservoir move along the top surface into the first vertical reservoir through the first opening and can be removed from the first horizontal reservoir.