Waste Liquid Tank Rib Gap for Ink Leakage Prevention
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with ink leakage due to posture changes during transport, as the communication port may be positioned at a lateral side of the waste liquid tank, causing ink to flow into the tank without being absorbed by the ink-absorbing foam, leading to potential leaks.
Innovation Solution
A waste liquid tank design featuring a casing with an inner wall surface, a communication port, an absorber, and ribs that form a gap between the absorber and the inner wall, allowing the liquid discharging unit to communicate with the atmosphere via a specific hole configuration, preventing ink from flowing along the ribs and leaking from the communication port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the waste liquid tank communicates with the atmosphere via a communication port at the upper end, then the cap can communicate with the atmosphere during normal use, but when the apparatus posture changes during transport, the communication port positions at the lateral side causing ink leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The communication function is segmented into two separate pathways: the communication port for normal atmospheric communication and the atmosphere communication hole positioned higher for posture change protection. This segmentation allows each pathway to serve specific functions under different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The atmosphere communication hole is preliminarily positioned at the highest point of the inner wall surface to ensure it remains above the liquid level even when the apparatus posture changes. This preliminary positioning prevents ink from reaching the communication pathway during transport.
Solution Approach 3:
The rib structure acts as an intermediary element that creates a gap between the absorber and the inner wall surface, allowing atmospheric communication while preventing direct contact between the absorber and the wall. This intermediary structure enables the system to maintain communication functionality while blocking liquid pathways.
2Productivity
If an ink absorbing foam is placed in the waste liquid tank to absorb ink, then the waste liquid can be absorbed during normal operation, but when the apparatus is not in the in-use posture, the ink flows into the tank without being absorbed quickly causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is positioned to contact the rib rather than the inner wall surface directly, creating a localized absorption zone. The rib structure guides the ink flow to the absorber, ensuring efficient absorption at the critical location while preventing uncontrolled flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib serves as an intermediary structure that creates a controlled gap between the absorber and the inner wall. This gap allows atmospheric communication while the rib's positioning ensures ink flows through the absorber rather than bypassing it, maintaining both absorption efficiency and leakage prevention.
3Ease of operation
If the communication port is provided at the upper end of the waste liquid tank, then atmospheric communication is maintained during use, but during transport the port positions at the lateral side allowing ink to reach and leak from the port
Solution Approach 1:
The communication function is divided between the communication port for operational use and the atmosphere communication hole for transport protection. The atmosphere communication hole is positioned at the highest point to segment the communication pathway from potential liquid contamination zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The atmosphere communication hole is positioned in the vertical dimension at the highest point of the inner wall surface, creating a height-based safety margin. This dimensional positioning ensures that even when the apparatus tilts during transport, the liquid level cannot reach the communication hole, separating the communication function from liquid reachability in the vertical dimension.
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 design effectively prevents ink leakage by ensuring the ink is absorbed by the foam even when the apparatus is not in its in-use posture, maintaining atmospheric communication and preventing ink from reaching the rib, thus securing the tank's contents.
Implementation Method 1
The waste liquid tank may include an ink absorbing foam. In that case, when the ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing foam at the periphery of a connection portion between the waste liquid tank and the waste liquid channel
Implementation Method 2
an ink absorbing foam placed in the space
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a waste liquid tank including: a casing including an inner wall surface and a communication port; an absorber; a rib protruding from the inner wall surface, extending along the inner wall surface in an extending direction from a position distant from the communication port to a position close to the communication port, and being in contact with the absorber to form a gap between the absorber and the inner wall surface; and an atmosphere communication hole provided in a part, of the inner wall surface, facing the gap. An end of the rib on a side opposite to the communication port in the extending direction is closer to the communication port than the atmosphere communication hole.