Inclined Cap Member Movement for Compact Printing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing printing apparatuses with a cap member that moves using the driving force for the liquid droplet jetting head often result in a large size due to the need for a significant space for the cap member's movement, leading to a larger motor and overall apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus design where the cap member moves in an inclined direction using the head moving unit's pressing force, allowing the cap member to be positioned closer to the platen and reducing the inclination angle, thus minimizing the size of the head moving unit and the overall apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cap member is arranged far from the platen to allow movement in the second direction, then the cap member can move from retracted position to capping position, but the overall printing apparatus becomes large in the second direction
Solution Approach 1:
The cap member movement is changed from purely horizontal (second direction) to an inclined path that combines first direction (vertical) and second direction (horizontal) components. This dimensional change allows the cap member to reach the capping position while reducing the horizontal space requirement, as part of the movement occurs in the vertical dimension overlapping with the platen.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap member's movement path is nested within the existing apparatus structure by allowing it to move in an inclined direction that overlaps with the platen area. The cap member effectively utilizes the vertical space above the platen during its movement, nesting its trajectory within the overall apparatus footprint rather than requiring additional horizontal space.
2Area of stationary object
If the distance between retracted position and capping position in the second direction is made short, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the inclination angle becomes large requiring stronger pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The inclination angle of the cap member's movement path is optimized as a design parameter to balance the competing requirements of apparatus size and pressing force. By carefully selecting the inclination angle, the design achieves a compromise that keeps both the apparatus footprint and the required motor output within acceptable limits.
3Area of stationary object
If the inclination angle of the inclined direction is made large, then the apparatus size is reduced, but a larger motor output is required
Solution Approach 1:
The inclination angle is optimized as a critical design parameter that balances apparatus compactness against motor power requirements. The patent selects an inclination angle that achieves sufficient size reduction while keeping the motor output within practical limits, demonstrating parameter optimization to resolve the contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes: a platen having a supporting surface configured to support a recording medium; a liquid droplet jetting head having a nozzle surface on which nozzles are open; a head moving unit configured to move the liquid droplet jetting head in a head movement area including a first area and a second area which is adjacent to the first area; a maintenance mechanism including a cap member configured to be movable in a cap movement area which includes a retracted position and a capping position and to cover the nozzles; a cap moving mechanism configured to move the cap member by utilizing movement of the liquid droplet jetting head form the first area to the second area; and a cap guiding mechanism configured to guide movement of the cap member in the cap movement area in an inclined direction.