Inkjet Head Inclination Adjustment via Extraction Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in maintaining the positional accuracy of liquid ejecting heads due to vibration and the complexity of securing the hinge accuracy between the higher and lower housings, leading to issues with image quality and increased size of the recording apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus design that includes a support unit and a path forming member allowing for easy access to the recording unit without moving it, using a through hole and insertion shafts to maintain positional accuracy and adjust inclination, while keeping the apparatus compact by avoiding the need for additional guiding shafts and complex structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a cam mechanism with urging member is used to rotate the head base body for inclination adjustment, then the inclination of the liquid ejecting head can be adjusted, but the apparatus size increases and abrasion accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cam mechanism and urging member from the inclination adjustment system, replacing them with a simpler structure. The head base body is directly rotatable without requiring a cam mechanism, thereby removing the space-consuming components while maintaining the ability to adjust inclination for precise nozzle positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a cam mechanism that presses against the head base body to achieve rotation, the patent inverts the approach by allowing direct rotational movement of the head base body. This eliminates the need for the cam and urging member, reducing apparatus size while preserving inclination adjustment capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a cam mechanism with urging member is used to rotate the head base body for inclination adjustment, then the inclination of the liquid ejecting head can be adjusted, but abrasion accelerates and rotation precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cam mechanism and urging member from the system, eliminating the sources of abrasion. The head base body can be rotated directly without contact with cam surfaces, preventing wear and maintaining rotation precision over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The head base body is designed to be directly rotatable without requiring external urging members or cam mechanisms. This self-service design eliminates components that would otherwise cause abrasion and fail, improving reliability while maintaining adjustment precision.
3Ease of operation
If the higher housing is rotatably configured with respect to the lower housing to enable head maintenance access, then maintenance can be performed from the front face opening, but the hinge accuracy is difficult to secure affecting positional accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the maintenance access function from the positioning function. The higher housing can be opened independently to provide access to the head for maintenance, while the recording unit's position relative to the medium is maintained through separate positioning mechanisms, ensuring both accessibility and precision are preserved.
Solution Approach 2:
The higher housing is designed to be dynamically openable for maintenance access while the recording unit maintains its positional accuracy through independent positioning. This dynamic design allows the housing to open without compromising the precise positioning of the recording unit during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a recording unit which performs recording on a sheet which is transported along a transport path, a printer unit which accommodates the recording unit, a medium discharging port from which the sheet on which recording is performed by the recording unit is discharged, and a placing table which is located at a higher part of the recording unit, receives and supports the sheet which is discharged by the medium discharging port, and is provided in an openable-closable manner with respect to the printer unit. In addition, an access path through which it is possible to access the recording unit from the higher part by causing the placing table to be opened is formed.