Bicycle Rim Printing Apparatus Curved Surface Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle rim printing technologies struggle to effectively print designs on curved surfaces with large curvature, as they lack the necessary flexibility and stability to accommodate the shape of modern bicycle rims.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle rim printing apparatus comprising a non-contact printer, a rim holder, and a rotational actuator that rotates the rim holder relative to the printer about a rotational axis, along with a pivot structure to incline the rim and printer relative to each other, allowing for precise printing on curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional printing apparatus is used on bicycle rims with large curvature, then the rim shape cannot be properly accommodated, but the printing precision and design quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotational actuator that rotates the rim holder about a rotational axis, allowing the printing apparatus to dynamically adapt to the curved surface of the rim. The rim holder can rotate to match the rim's curvature, enabling the non-contact printer to maintain proper orientation and printing precision across the entire curved surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pivot structure that allows inclination of the rim holder or non-contact printer relative to the base structure about a pivot axis non-parallel to the rotational axis. This adds another degree of freedom, enabling the system to accommodate rims with large curvature by adjusting the inclination angle, thereby maintaining printing precision on three-dimensional curved surfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rim holder is rotated to accommodate curved surfaces, then adaptability improves, but the orientation stability of the printer deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the printing system into separate functional modules: a base structure, a rotatable rim holder, and a pivotable non-contact printer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the rim holder rotates to accommodate different rim shapes while the non-contact printer maintains stable orientation through the pivot structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
3Ease of operation
If the non-contact printer is inclined relative to the rim, then printing on curved surfaces becomes easier, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot structure serves multiple functions: it allows inclination of the non-contact printer relative to the rim, accommodates rims with large curvature, and maintains proper printing orientation. This multi-functionality achieves ease of operation on curved surfaces without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single pivot mechanism handles multiple requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle rim printing apparatus comprises a non-contact printer to print a non-contact printed deposit to an annular rim body, a rim holder to hold the annular rim body, and a rotational actuator to rotate the rim holder relative to the non-contact printer about a rotational axis.