Ink-jet Carriage Lever Load Management via Inclined Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with foreign matter accumulation in dusty environments, which can increase the load on the lever member, potentially causing the drive source to stop operating if the load exceeds its stall torque.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a lever member that is slidable and rotatable about a shaft parallel to the main scanning direction, with inclined surfaces on the guide member to facilitate pivoting and a biasing member to manage the load, ensuring the lever member can pivot regardless of the applied load, and transmission gears to distribute the drive force effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lever member is made pivotable to enable disengagement from stopper portions, then the lever member can switch between positions, but foreign matter accumulation increases the load on the lever member, potentially causing the drive source to stop operating
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing member (spring) is introduced as an intermediary element between the lever member and the drive source. This spring absorbs excess load and torque variations, preventing them from being directly transmitted to the drive source. The biasing member acts as a buffer that maintains reliable operation even when foreign matter accumulates on the lever member or inclined portions.
2Ease of operation
If the lever member pivots while being guided by inclined portions, then the lever member can be disengaged from stopper portions, but foreign matter adhesion increases the load, which may exceed the drive source's stall torque
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member (spring) is pre-configured to provide cushioning force before the lever member encounters resistance from foreign matter. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the lever member pivots along the inclined portions, any sudden load increases due to foreign matter adhesion are absorbed by the spring, preventing the load from exceeding the drive source's stall torque.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lever member is retained by multiple stopper portions, then the lever member can be positioned at multiple locations, but the lever member requires pivoting motion that increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is segmented into multiple sections, each with stopper portions at different positions along the main scanning direction. This segmentation allows the lever member to be retained at multiple discrete positions without requiring complex pivoting mechanisms. The inclined portions are also segmented to facilitate smooth transitions between stopper portions.
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 configuration allows the lever member to maintain operation even under increased loads, preventing the drive source from stalling and ensuring continuous operation in dusty environments by managing the load and torque effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to bias the lever
Implementation Method 2
an inclined portion including an inclined surface is formed at the first edge portion... the inclined surface being inclined with respect to the main scanning direction and configured to contact the lever arm so as to rotate the lever arm toward the second edge portion
Implementation Method 3
a first gear configured to rotate by a drive force transmitted from a drive source; a second gear meshing with the first gear
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a carriage; a lever rotatable about an axis of a shaft and including a lever arm; and a guide having an elongate hole defined by a first edge portion having stoppers for retaining the lever arm and a second edge portion, wherein the guide having an inclined portion including an inclined surface for rotating the lever arm toward the second edge portion and formed downstream of the stoppers in a first direction, wherein the biasing member biases the lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction and in a direction directed from the second edge portion toward the first edge portion, and wherein a distance between: a first position where the inclined surface and the lever arm contact; and the axis of the shaft is larger than a distance between: a second position where each stopper contacts the lever arm; and the axis.