Cutter Device Sensor Placement for Compact Printing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutter devices integrated into printing apparatuses face challenges in reducing size due to the placement of sensors above the holder, which increases the device's height and makes it difficult to miniaturize the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A cutter device design featuring a pair of pulleys, an endless belt, a movable blade, and sensors positioned to overlap with the holder in the up-down direction, allowing for reduced size by optimizing sensor placement and using a guide portion to facilitate movement while minimizing vertical space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor is disposed above the holder to detect the position of the movable blade, then the detection function is achieved, but the size of the cutter device increases in the up-down direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sensor placement from the vertical dimension (above the holder) to the horizontal dimension (at the side of the holder in the movement direction). This dimensional shift allows the sensor to detect the holder's position without increasing the vertical height, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection functionality and device compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflection board as an intermediary element. The reflection board reflects light from the light source to the sensor, enabling the sensor to detect the holder's position indirectly. This intermediary mechanism allows the sensor to be positioned at the side of the holder rather than directly above it, maintaining detection capability while reducing vertical space requirements.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor is disposed above the holder, then the detection function is achieved, but it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the printing apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the sensor from the vertical dimension to the horizontal dimension, positioning it at the side of the holder in the movement direction. This spatial reconfiguration enables the sensor to effectively detect blade position without contributing to the vertical height or overall volume of the printing apparatus, thus facilitating size reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflection board serves as a mediator that enables the sensor to detect the holder's position through light reflection. This intermediary allows the sensor to be positioned laterally rather than vertically above the holder, thereby avoiding the need for increased apparatus height and volume while maintaining accurate position detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A cutter device includes a pair of pulleys including a first pulley and a second pulley, an endless belt spanning the pair of pulleys, a holder that holds a movable blade and moves in accordance with a movement of the endless belt, a first sensor configured to detect that a position of the movable blade is at a first position, and a second sensor configured to detect that the position of the movable blade is at a second position. The first sensor and the second sensor are disposed at positions overlapping with the holder in an up-down direction. The holder includes a first arm protruding toward the first position and a second arm protruding toward the second position. The first arm faces the first sensor when the holder is at the first position, and the second arm faces the second sensor when the holder is at the second position.