Vibrating Waste Liquid Absorber Electrode Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid jetting apparatuses face issues with maintaining the contact state between detection electrodes and the absorber over time due to vibrations, leading to potential detection failures of the full-liquid state in ink-jet printers.

Innovation Solution

The liquid jetting apparatus incorporates a vibration generating source that vibrates the waste liquid absorber, with detection electrodes positioned to make contact with the absorber's end surface at a right angle to the vibration direction, ensuring a larger contact area and minimizing separation, thus maintaining contact for a longer period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the pair of electrodes is inserted into the absorber, then the waste liquid amount can be detected, but the contact state between electrodes and absorber deteriorates over time due to vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste liquid amount detectionVSAvoidcontact state between electrodes and absorber

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the absorber vibratable rather than fixed. The absorber is configured to vibrate in response to waste liquid absorption, which dynamically maintains contact between the electrodes and absorber surface. This vibration mechanism counteracts the degradation of contact state over time, ensuring continuous reliable detection while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the holes of the absorber get bigger due to vibration, then the absorber can absorb more liquid, but the contact between electrodes and absorber is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste liquid absorption capacityVSAvoidelectrode-contact state

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration by utilizing the natural vibration of the absorber when waste liquid is absorbed. The absorber's pores expand and contract, causing the entire absorber to vibrate. This vibration keeps the electrodes in constant contact with the absorber surface, preventing the contact loss that would otherwise occur as the holes enlarge during prolonged use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Loss of substance

If the absorber is made porous to absorb waste liquid, then liquid recovery is improved, but the contact state with electrodes deteriorates due to hole expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste liquid recovery efficiencyVSAvoiddetection electrode contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of pore expansion into a beneficial vibration mechanism. The expansion of pores during liquid absorption naturally causes the absorber to vibrate, which is then harnessed to maintain electrode contact. What would normally be a degradation mechanism (pore expansion) is transformed into the solution (vibration-induced contact maintenance), thereby achieving both high liquid recovery efficiency and reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 configuration effectively maintains the contact state between detection electrodes and the absorber, reducing detection failures and ensuring reliable detection of the full-liquid state even with prolonged use.

Implementation Method 1

a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8888237B2Liquid jetting apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head configured to jet liquid; a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the liquid jetting head; a waste liquid recover unit including a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit and detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber; and a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction, wherein the detection electrodes are disposed to make contact with an end surface defining the waste liquid absorber, and a normal direction of the end surface intersects with the vibration direction.