Waste Ink Container Air Passage Layout for Ink Mist Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges in efficiently separating ink mist from gases in the waste ink container, leading to potential contamination and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a waste ink container with multiple receiving ports and suction air passages that are bent and joined at a common point, enhancing the separation of ink mist from gases using centrifugal force, thereby improving collection efficiency and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the suction air passage is straight and direct, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the ink mist cannot be effectively separated from the gases, causing contamination and equipment malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The suction air passage is designed with a bent configuration instead of a straight path. The passage bends in a direction away from the recording head, creating a curved flow path that allows ink mist to settle or be separated from the gas stream due to changes in flow direction and velocity, while still maintaining a relatively simple structural implementation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate suction air passages are provided for each receiving port, then ink mist separation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple suction air passages that originate from different receiving ports are merged into a common suction chamber before entering the suction mechanism. This allows separate suction paths for each receiving port to maintain their individual bent configurations for effective mist separation, while combining them at the end to avoid the complexity of multiple independent suction mechanisms
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 separates ink mist from gases, minimizing contamination and preventing malfunctions, while reducing the frequency of filter replacements and maintaining operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The suction mechanism sucks gases from the waste ink container. The gases sucked by the suction mechanism flows in an air passage formed in the waste ink container.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a waste ink container, and a suction mechanism. The waste ink container has a plurality of receiving ports to receive ink ejected from the recording head, a suction port disposed at a position apart from each of the plurality of receiving ports, and a plurality of suction air passages connected to the plurality of receiving ports, respectively, so as to communicate between a destination receiving port and the suction port. The plurality of suction air passages are each bent between the destination receiving port and the suction port, and at least two suction air passages join at a predetermined position between the destination receiving port and the suction port.