Waste Ink Absorber With Alternating Density Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste ink absorbers face a trade-off between permeability and retention performance, where high permeability leads to poor retention and vice versa, due to uniform density of absorbing materials in a piled structure.
Innovation Solution
A waste ink absorber with alternating low and high density portions, laid obliquely, which allows for efficient absorption and retention of waste ink by ensuring contact with both low and high density surfaces, enhancing permeability and retention performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If waste liquid absorbing materials are arranged in a piled manner with uniform density, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the retention performance deteriorates when permeability is good, and permeability deteriorates when retention performance is good
Solution Approach 1:
The waste ink absorber is designed with non-uniform density distribution, creating high-density portions and low-density portions in different regions. The high-density portions provide retention performance while low-density portions provide permeability, allowing each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the overall simple piled structure
Solution Approach 2:
The waste ink absorber uses composite absorbing materials with different densities to achieve both good permeability and retention performance simultaneously. By combining materials with different density characteristics, the system overcomes the trade-off present in uniform density structures
2Ease of operation
If waste liquid absorbing materials are arranged in a piled manner with uniform density, then assembly is simple, but both permeability and retention performance cannot be optimized simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the waste ink absorber have different density characteristics - high-density portions for retention and low-density portions for permeability. This local differentiation allows both performance requirements to be met while maintaining the simple piled assembly structure
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of varying density within a single uniform layer, the invention creates multiple layers with alternating high and low density portions. This dimensional approach to density distribution allows simultaneous optimization of permeability and retention while keeping assembly simple
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 alternating density structure ensures prompt absorption and effective retention of waste ink, simplifying assembly and preventing leakage, while allowing for a more compact design of waste ink tanks and liquid droplet ejecting devices.
Implementation Method 1
a waste liquid absorbing material having a waste liquid absorbing capability
Implementation Method 2
the permeability of the waste liquid with respect to the waste liquid absorbing material
Data Source
AI summary
A waste ink absorber is for absorbing waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink. In a side cross-sectional view of the waste ink absorber, a portion low in density and a portion high in density as compared with the portion low in density are laid alternately and obliquely such that the portion low in density and the portion high in density appear alternately on each surface of the waste ink absorber.