Floating Connector One-Rib Design for Printer Misalignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in computer and electrical hardware is misalignment of pins and holes, which prevents proper connection and can lead to equipment damage, as perfectly aligned connectors are either unmanufacturable or costly to produce, and manual alignment is tedious.
Innovation Solution
A floating connector system with a one-rib design that allows rotational freedom around the Y-axis, enabling the connector to align and mate correctly within a printer system, even with slight misalignment, using a two-piece snap-together design with additional lead-in features and tolerance zones for translational and rotational movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If connectors are designed with perfect alignment, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases or manufacturability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with floating capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation during insertion. The connector can float in multiple directions (X, Y, Z axes) and rotate around axes to automatically align with the mating connector, transforming a static perfect-alignment requirement into a dynamic self-alignment process that is manufacturable with standard tolerances
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameters of the connector by allowing it to float and shift within defined tolerance zones. Instead of fixing the connector at a precise position, the system allows parameter variations (position and orientation) to accommodate manufacturing tolerances while ensuring proper connection
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of pins and holes is performed, then connection precision is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating connector design enables self-alignment during the insertion process. The connector automatically finds its correct position and orientation through floating movement and rotation, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations while ensuring precise pin-to-hole registration
3Adaptability or versatility
If connector floating capability is added, then adaptability to misalignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system is segmented into independent floating and mating components. The floating connector is separated from the fixed housing structure, allowing it to move independently in multiple directions and rotate around axes. This segmentation enables misalignment compensation without requiring complex integrated mechanisms
4Ease of operation
If tolerance zones for translational and rotational movements are provided, then ease of connection is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The tolerance zones are implemented as dynamic floating regions rather than fixed precision features. The connector can move within these zones during insertion, and the floating mechanism naturally guides the connector to the correct position. This approach converts static precision requirements into dynamic operational tolerances that are easier to manufacture
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed that surrounds a connector and places it within the printer body in such away as to allow for the connector to float against the intrusion of a sliding can mounted with electronics and to set up and enable the printer. The problem solved is that of the blind-mating connectors within a printer system for which an industry standard connector set for flex cable must be used. It is advantageous to allow a connector that is attached to a flex cable to float even though the floating feature has not been considered in the original design and the connector was not made for the amount of misalignment present in a blind-mate connection. In addition, by a single-rib design, an extra degree of freedom for rotational around Y-axis is provided to the floating connector to further guide the lead-in of the contacting face of the mating connector.