Internal Vent Conduit for Micro-Fluid Ejection Tank Air Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micro-fluid ejection devices, such as ink jet printers, face issues with air trapping between fluid supply tanks and ejection heads, leading to fluid seepage or air intake due to pressure changes, especially in smaller tanks, which can result in cross-contamination and require costly air purging systems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an internal vent conduit between the fluid exit port and the cover of the fluid supply tank to provide a path for air removal, allowing trapped air to escape through an atmospheric vent, thereby preventing fluid loss and reducing the need for large air collection volumes or air removal mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the fluid supply tank size is decreased to reduce device size, then the device becomes more compact, but the tank becomes less tolerant of air volume changes leading to fluid seepage or air intake
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is segmented into separate functional zones: a fluid storage chamber and a dedicated air venting chamber connected via a vent conduit. This segmentation allows the air venting chamber to accommodate air volume changes independently, preventing these changes from affecting the fluid storage chamber and eliminating fluid seepage or air intake issues even in compact tank designs.
2Reliability
If a purging pump is used to remove air from the tank, then air can be effectively removed, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pressure differential created during normal ejection head operation to automatically vent air through the internal vent conduit. The ejection head's pumping action creates negative pressure that draws air out through the vent conduit without requiring a separate purging pump, making the system self-venting and eliminating additional mechanical components.
3Reliability
If a large breathing mechanism is included in the tank to accommodate air, then air volume changes are tolerated, but the tank size and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is divided into fluid storage and air venting zones, with the air venting function handled by a dedicated chamber connected via vent conduit. This segmentation allows minimal air accommodation space to be sufficient, as air is directed to a specific zone rather than requiring the entire tank to accommodate air volume changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent conduit creates a three-dimensional air venting pathway that extends from the bottom of the tank to the top, utilizing vertical space efficiently. This dimensional approach allows effective air venting without requiring large horizontal air storage volumes within the tank body.
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 vent conduit effectively removes air from the tank, preventing fluid loss and cross-contamination, and eliminates the need for costly air purging systems, ensuring reliable operation of micro-fluid ejection devices without significant increases in tank size or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Expansion and/or contraction of the trapped air as the result of atmospheric pressure or altitude changes may result in changes in pressure of the fluid at nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
An improved fluid supply tank for a micro-fluid ejection head and method for improving operation of a micro-fluid ejection device. The fluid supply tank has a body portion for holding a fluid to be ejected. The body portion includes a fluid exit port on an exit end thereof and a cover on an opposing end thereof. An internal vent conduit is disposed in the tank between the exit end and the cover for air removal adjacent to the exit port.