Edible-Ink Printer Housing with Hinged Access and Receiving Arm
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for printing edible ink on food products require large and expensive commercial printers with sophisticated sensing systems, and loading and unloading food products on conveyors or trays is impractical, affecting print quality and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A printer system with a delivery tray external to the print window and a receiving arm that is extendable and retractable, allowing for automatic and continuous delivery and retrieval of food products, synchronized with a stationary delivery tray for easy reloading and visibility during the printing process, along with a hinged housing design for easy access and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conveyor belt system or tray is used for printing on food products, then printing can be performed on multiple food products, but loading and unloading food products becomes impractical and affects print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the food product handling into separate functional zones: a stationary delivery tray for loading, a movable receiving arm for transfer, and a printing zone. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function, making loading easy while maintaining printing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A receiving arm acts as an intermediary between the delivery tray and the printing position. This mediator transfers food products without requiring the entire conveyor system to move, enabling easy reloading while maintaining continuous printing capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If commercial printers with sophisticated sensing systems are used, then printing precision can be improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The food product itself serves as the reference for positioning. By printing on the bottom surface of the product as it rests on the delivery tray, the system uses the product's own geometry and position to ensure accurate printing without requiring external sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex sensing and positioning systems are removed from the printing mechanism. Instead, the system relies on the simple geometric relationship between the delivery tray and the print head, extracting only the essential printing function while eliminating unnecessary complexity.
3Reliability
If the printer housing is sealed for protection, then component protection is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing transitions from a static sealed structure to a dynamic openable structure. The cover can be moved between closed (protecting components) and open (allowing access) positions, enabling the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The openable cover design anticipates maintenance needs by providing easy access before problems occur. Users can readily clean and maintain components during scheduled downtime without requiring disassembly tools or complex procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A printer (10) comprising: a housing comprising an upper portion (150) and a lower portion (160) with a cavity there between and wherein the upper portion and lower portion are connected by a hinged connection (170) comprising one or more hinges (172) such that the housing opens about the hinged connection between the upper portion and the lower portion to expose the cavity there between and wherein the upper portion is positioned above the lower portion and the hinged connection allows the upper portion to be lifted up with respect to the lower portion to expose one or more printer components for access through the cavity.