Inkjet Maintenance Drive Control to Prevent Worm Gear Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The issue of worm gear jamming between the recording section and maintenance unit in inkjet printers due to excessive force during abutment and separation, leading to separation failure.
Innovation Solution
A recording device with a moving section using a worm gear and driving source to control the abutment and separation forces, where the force for abutment is smaller than that for separation, and a restricting section to prevent unwanted movement, controlled by a controller that sets predetermined positions and forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large force is applied to cause the recording section and maintenance unit to abut each other, then the abutment is secure and reliable, but the worm gear may cause a jam between the worm and the worm wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the driving force variable rather than constant. The driving source adjusts the force magnitude based on the operational phase: applying a first (larger) driving force during abutment to ensure reliable contact, and a second (smaller) driving force during separation to prevent worm gear jamming. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing sufficient abutment force and avoiding excessive force that causes jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of driving force magnitude between two distinct states. By switching between a first driving force (for abutment) and a second driving force (for separation), the system optimizes performance for each phase. The controller monitors the operational state and adjusts the force parameter accordingly, preventing worm gear jamming during separation while ensuring reliable abutment when needed.
2Device complexity
If the worm gear is used to transmit power for moving the recording section and maintenance unit, then the structure is compact and simple, but the worm gear may cause a jam that prevents separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by varying the driving force magnitude based on the operational phase. During separation, the controller uses a smaller second driving force that is sufficient to overcome static friction and move the worm gear without causing jamming. This dynamic adjustment maintains the simplicity of the worm gear structure while ensuring reliable separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the urging section (spring) to pre-position the maintenance unit before the driving source acts. The urging section stores potential energy and provides an initial force that assists the driving source during separation, reducing the load on the worm gear and preventing jamming while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If the driving source applies sufficient force to separate the recording section and maintenance unit, then separation is achieved, but the force exceeds what is needed for abutment causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by adjusting the driving force magnitude according to the operational phase. The controller applies a first driving force for abutment and a smaller second driving force for separation. This prevents excessive force from damaging components during abutment while ensuring sufficient force is available when needed for separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action through the urging section (spring mechanism) that pre-positions the maintenance unit and stores potential energy. This reduces the force requirement during separation, preventing damage to components while ensuring reliable separation. The urging section acts beforehand to assist the driving source.
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
Prevents worm gear jamming by ensuring the abutment force is less than the separation force, allowing reliable separation of the recording and maintenance units, facilitating easy adjustment of forces, and reducing power consumption and detection errors.
Implementation Method 1
a worm gear that transmits the power of the driving source
Implementation Method 2
The maintenance unit has a maintenance section that performs maintenance of the nozzle section, and also has an urging section that urges the maintenance section toward the nozzle section
Data Source
AI summary
A recording device has: a recording section that discharges a liquid to a medium for recording purposes; a maintenance unit that abuts the recording section and performs maintenance of the recording section; a first moving section that causes the recording section to abut the maintenance unit and separates the recording section from the maintenance unit; and a restricting section that can suppress movement of the recording section toward the maintenance unit after the recording section abuts the maintenance unit. The first moving section has a driving source and a worm gear that transmits the power of the driving source. A force with which the driving source causes the recording section to abut the maintenance unit is smaller than a force with which the driving source separates the recording section from the maintenance unit.