Ink Jet Recording Apparatus With Open-State Cover Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face challenges with large covers that require safer and more operable opening/closing mechanisms due to increased size and weight, necessitating improved safety and usability in commercial/industrial settings.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording apparatus with a conveyance path, action unit, driving input unit, and transmission unit that includes a locking mechanism to prevent the action unit from being closed while open, enhancing operability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cover size is increased to accommodate larger recording apparatus components, then the recording apparatus can handle larger recording media and provide more functionality, but the weight and size of the cover increase, making manual opening and closing more difficult and less safe
Solution Approach 1:
A link mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user's manual input and the heavy cover, providing mechanical advantage through lever arms and pivot points. This intermediary mechanism allows a user to easily lift and operate the heavy cover without directly bearing its full weight, thus resolving the contradiction between cover size capacity and cover weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cover is made larger to enclose more components, then the recording apparatus provides more functionality and protection, but the opening and closing operation becomes more complex and less safe
Solution Approach 1:
The cover opening/closing mechanism is segmented into multiple functional components: link mechanisms for mechanical advantage, locking units for secure positioning, and detection units for state verification. This segmentation allows each component to handle a specific aspect of the operation, making the overall system easier and safer to operate despite the cover's large size and enhanced functionality.
3Device complexity
If a manual opening and closing mechanism is used for the heavy cover, then the structure remains simple, but safety and operability are insufficient for commercial/industrial applications
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism incorporates self-locking functionality where the locking unit automatically engages when the cover reaches its open position, eliminating the need for additional actuators or complex control systems. The detection unit provides automatic feedback to verify the open state, ensuring safety without significantly increasing structural complexity. This self-service approach maintains simplicity while dramatically improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording apparatus includes a conveyance path configured to convey a recording medium, an action unit configured to act on the recording medium, capable of being opened and closed to the conveyance path, a driving input unit to which driving force for opening and closing the action unit is input, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the driving force to the unit from the driving input unit, wherein the transmission unit includes a locking unit configured to prevent the action unit in an opened state from being closed.