Dual-Rack Pinion Mechanism for Extended Inkjet Head Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording devices face challenges in minimizing the size of the rack and pinion mechanism while maintaining the moving area of the ink jet head, leading to increased device size due to the need for longer racks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a moving mechanism that includes a first member with a fixed first rack, a second rack, and pinion gears, where the head unit can move in the V-axis direction, allowing for a larger moving range without increasing the size of the mechanism, by using a combination of rollers and guide grooves to reduce sliding resistance and enhance the head unit's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the length of the rack is increased to increase the moving area of the ink jet head, then the moving range is improved, but the size of the rack and pinion mechanism increases and the size of the entire device also increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is divided into two separate racks (first rack and second rack) positioned at different locations. The head connecting member engages with both racks through separate pinion gears, allowing the moving range to be doubled without increasing the length of individual racks. This segmentation enables the ink jet head to traverse a larger area while keeping each rack compact.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the moving range by extending the rack in one dimension, the invention uses two racks positioned at different spatial locations (different dimensions). The head connecting member moves along both racks simultaneously, effectively doubling the moving range by utilizing a two-rack configuration rather than a single extended rack.
2Device complexity
If a single rack is used to move the ink jet head, then the structure is simple, but the moving range is limited by the rack length
Solution Approach 1:
The single rack is segmented into two separate racks (first rack and second rack), each of which can be kept relatively short. The head connecting member is equipped with pinion gears that engage both racks, allowing the system to achieve a larger combined moving range while maintaining structural simplicity through modular replication rather than a single complex extended rack.
3Length of moving object
If the rack length is increased to accommodate larger moving area, then the moving range is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical moving range is achieved by segmenting the rack system into two vertically positioned racks. The first rack and second rack are arranged at different vertical locations, and the head connecting member engages both through pinion gears. This allows the ink jet head to achieve a large vertical moving range without requiring any single rack to be excessively long, thereby controlling the overall device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-rack linear arrangement to a dual-rack configuration where racks are positioned at different vertical dimensions. This dimensional arrangement allows the moving range to be the sum of both rack lengths, effectively increasing the vertical traversing capability while keeping individual rack lengths (and thus device dimensions) manageable.
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
This configuration allows for a larger moving range of the head unit while restricting the size of the mechanism, thereby minimizing the overall device size and maintaining effective inkjet recording capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a rack and pinion mechanism
Implementation Method 2
using a combination of rollers and guide grooves to reduce sliding resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A recording device includes a transportation path that transports a medium, a recording portion configured to move with respect to the transportation path in a direction intersecting with a recording surface of the medium, a moving mechanism that moves the recording portion, and a motor that causes the recording portion to move, and the moving mechanism includes a first member on which a first rack is formed in a moving direction of the recording portion, a first pinion gear that is engaged with the first rack, a second rack that is provided at a position facing the first rack in the recording portion, formed in the moving direction, and engaged with the first pinion gear, and a second member in which the first pinion gear is rotatably provided that is configured to move in the moving direction by receiving the power of the motor.