Wedge-Shaped Fork Clamp Plate for Print Liquid Spout Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pliable reservoirs used in printing devices are difficult to handle and couple to ejection devices due to their lack of rigid structure, leading to alignment issues and instability during liquid supply replacement, which affects the functionality and ease of use in printing devices.
Innovation Solution
A bag-in-box print liquid supply system with a secured dispensing spout, featuring a clamp plate assembly with wedge-shaped forked ends and a back plate that affixes the spout to a container, ensuring it remains stationary and aligned with the ejection device, providing a rigid interface and facilitating easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pliable reservoirs are used to hold print liquid, then the reservoir is flexible and can be easily manufactured, but the reservoir becomes difficult to handle and couple to ejection devices due to lack of rigid structure
Solution Approach 1:
The pliable reservoir is nested within a rigid container structure, combining the manufacturing advantages of flexible materials with the handling benefits of rigid outer shell. The rigid container provides structural support while the pliable reservoir maintains its flexibility for liquid containment.
Solution Approach 2:
A rigid container acts as an intermediary between the pliable reservoir and the ejection device, providing the necessary rigid interface for coupling while allowing the reservoir to remain flexible. The container mediates the interaction between the soft reservoir and the rigid dispensing mechanism.
2Device complexity
If pliable reservoirs are used without rigid support, then the structure remains simple and flexible, but alignment issues and instability occur during liquid supply replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid supply system is segmented into distinct functional components: a pliable reservoir for liquid containment, a rigid container for structural support and alignment, and a coupling mechanism for interface with the ejection device. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together as a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines different material properties by using both pliable materials for the reservoir and rigid materials for the container and coupling structures. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both material types to achieve both flexibility and structural integrity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the spout is not securely affixed to the container, then the assembly process is simpler, but the spout moves and misaligns during operation affecting printing functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is pre-secured to the rigid container during assembly through a clamp plate mechanism that firmly attaches the spout in the correct position before the reservoir is installed. This preliminary securing action ensures precise alignment is established early in the assembly process and maintained throughout operation.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a clamp plate assembly for a print liquid supply is described. The clamp plate assembly includes a clamp plate which includes 1) two wedge-shaped forked ends to facilitate clamping a spout to a container in which a print liquid reservoir is disposed and 2) a slot defined by the forked ends to receive and retain the spout. The clamp plate assembly also includes a back plate approximately orthogonal to the clamp plate.