Ink Ribbon Shaft Support via Asymmetric Truncated Pyramid Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink ribbon support mechanisms in printers often fail to properly align the convex and concave portions, leading to misalignment and improper support of the ribbon shaft, which can result in the shaft not being securely supported by the support member.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ink ribbon support mechanism with rotatable support portions featuring convex and concave portions of truncated pyramid shapes, along with elastic members that allow for automatic alignment and secure engagement, ensuring proper support without requiring manual adjustment of angular positional relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the convex portion and concave portion are designed with simple cylindrical shapes, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the alignment between ribs and grooves cannot be ensured, causing the shaft to fail proper support
Solution Approach 1:
The convex portion is designed with an asymmetric truncated pyramid shape featuring ribs at specific angular intervals, while the concave portion has corresponding grooves. This asymmetric geometry ensures that when the convex portion is inserted, the ribs automatically align with the grooves at predetermined angles, providing reliable shaft support while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
2Reliability
If the user manually aligns the ribs and grooves during assembly, then proper engagement can be achieved, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The convex portion with ribs and the concave portion with grooves are designed so that during the natural insertion process, the ribs automatically engage with the grooves at predetermined angular positions without requiring user intervention for alignment. The geometry itself guides the correct positioning, making the assembly process simple while ensuring reliable engagement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the convex portion has multiple ribs at different angular positions, then multiple engagement positions are possible, but it becomes difficult to ensure consistent alignment during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The convex portion features ribs at specifically designed asymmetric angular intervals (e.g., 0°, 72°, 144° for pentagonal configuration), and the concave portion has corresponding grooves at matching positions. This asymmetric design provides multiple valid engagement positions while ensuring precise alignment at each position, as the rib-groove geometry only fits correctly at the predetermined angles.
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 solution enables secure and reliable support of the ink ribbon shaft, preventing misalignment and ensuring consistent printing performance by automatically aligning the convex and concave portions through the generation of rotation torque, thus enhancing the usability and reliability of the printer.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the rotatable support portion and the ribbon shaft includes an elastic member that elastically displaces at least one part of the two support portions and the two supported portions in a withdrawing direction
Implementation Method 2
When the ribs of the convex portion are fitted into the grooves of the concave portion, the rotation of the support portion is transferred to the supported portion via the ribs of the convex portion and the grooves of the concave portion, so as to rotate the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes support members having a convex portion and a support hole as two support portions, and a shaft that includes, in both end portions thereof, a concave portion and a projection portion as supported portions engaging with the support members, respectively, and supports an ink ribbon, the convex portion is rotatable, the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion, the convex portion includes a portion having a pentagonal truncated pyramid liked shape extending in an axis direction, the concave portion includes an inner circumference surface having a polygonal liked shape corresponding to the number of corners of the portion having the truncated pyramid liked shape, and includes a coil spring that elastically displaces the shaft in which the concave portion is formed in a withdrawing direction.