Printer Carriage Cable Holder Layout for Ink Position Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing printing apparatuses, the reciprocating motion of the carriage can apply force to the cable holder, leading to carriage displacement and ink ejection position deviation, affecting printing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A holder is positioned between supported portions on the carriage, with a flexible reinforcing portion along the cable, and a tube extending from one end to the other, to stabilize the carriage and maintain ink ejection precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the carriage reciprocates to enable printing operation, then printing productivity is improved, but cable bending applies force to the holder causing carriage displacement and deteriorating printing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is divided into multiple supported portions that contact the support shaft at different locations. This segmentation distributes the mechanical support along the reciprocating direction, preventing concentrated force on the holder and reducing cable-induced displacement during printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support shaft acts as an intermediary element between the carriage and the main body unit. It provides mechanical support to multiple portions of the carriage, mediating the forces generated by cable bending and preventing these forces from causing carriage displacement that would affect ink ejection accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the holder is positioned to accommodate cable routing, then cable connection is achieved, but carriage displacement occurs due to cable bending forces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on a single holder position, the carriage incorporates multiple supported portions along the reciprocating direction. This segmentation distributes mechanical support to counterbalance forces on the holder, maintaining carriage position stability while preserving cable connection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the holder is optimized within the range between adjacent supported portions. By changing the holder's positional parameter within this range, the design achieves both adequate cable accommodation and minimal impact on carriage stability, as the surrounding supported portions provide force distribution.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple supported portions are added to the carriage, then carriage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support shaft serves multiple functions: it supports the carriage during reciprocation, distributes mechanical forces from cable bending, and provides positional reference for the holder. This multi-functionality achieves carriage stability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Supported portions are strategically placed at specific locations on the carriage where they are most effective for force distribution. This localized approach provides necessary stability while minimizing the overall structural complexity, as support is concentrated where mechanically critical rather than uniformly distributed.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a main body unit, a head unit that ejects ink onto a medium, a carriage that reciprocates with the head unit mounted on the main body unit, a support shaft that extends in a reciprocating direction of the carriage and supports the carriage, and a cable that has one end coupled to the main body unit and the other end electrically coupled to the head unit, and supplies an electrical signal to the head unit, the carriage includes a holder that holds the cable, and a plurality of supported portions that come into contact with the support shaft and are supported by the support shaft, and the holder is disposed at a position between at least two of the plurality of supported portions in the reciprocating direction.