Camshaft Rotation Control for Printer Cap Position Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
During power outages, the cap position detection device in image formation devices becomes unreliable, potentially causing the cap to interfere with the carriage when power is restored, as the position of the cap relative to the nozzle surface becomes unclear, leading to uncertainty about the direction to lower or raise it.
Innovation Solution
An image formation device with a rotatable camshaft and a motor-driven mechanism that includes a first and second rotation angle range, utilizing a rotation angle detector and stoppers to ensure the cap is safely lowered or raised without interfering with the carriage, even when the cap's position is unclear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap position detection device is used to detect cap position, then the cap position can be monitored during normal operation, but the detection becomes unreliable when power supply is cut off
Solution Approach 1:
The camshaft is designed with predetermined rotation angle ranges (first and second ranges) that automatically guide the cap to safe positions (lowered or raised) when power is restored after a outage. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that even without power during detection, the cap will be moved to a known safe position once power returns, preventing interference with the carriage.
2Ease of operation
If the motor is driven to move the cap when position is unclear, then the cap can be repositioned, but it may rise and interfere with the carriage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts motor rotation direction based on the camshaft's current rotation angle. By detecting which rotation angle range the camshaft is in, the control device determines whether to rotate the motor in the first or second direction, ensuring the cap moves to the appropriate safe position without interfering with the carriage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap position detection device provides feedback about the camshaft's rotation angle range. This feedback information is used by the control device to determine the correct motor rotation direction, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents harmful cap-carriage interference even when power was previously cut off.
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
Prevents cap interference with the carriage by ensuring the cap is returned to its original position reliably, even when power is restored and the cap's position is unknown, thus maintaining device functionality and preventing errors.
Implementation Method 1
a first cam provided in the camshaft to raise the cap as the camshaft rotates in the first rotation angle range from the reference point
Implementation Method 2
a motor to drive the camshaft in the first direction and the second direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation device includes a recording head which is capable of ejecting droplets from a nozzle, a cap to elevate a nozzle surface of the nozzle in a sealable manner, a camshaft, a first cam in the camshaft, and a motor to drive the camshaft. The camshaft is rotatable in a first rotation angle range from a reference point in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction by using a position in a rotation direction when the cap is located at a lowest position as the reference point. The first cam is operable to raise the cap as the camshaft rotates in the first rotation angle range from the reference point