Inkjet Printer Retaining Section for Cylindrical Object Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printers face challenges in maintaining a consistent gap distance between the ink jet head and three-dimensional objects with cylindrical shapes, leading to inaccuracies in printing due to the adjustment mechanisms used for supporting such objects, which can result in errors over time, especially in industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet printer configuration featuring a print object retaining section with shafts that allow for precise positioning and rotation of cylindrical objects, utilizing a first shaft as a driving shaft and second and third shafts as driven shafts with different inter-axis distances, enabling accurate retention and rotation of objects with varying diameters, and a rotation driving section that includes a stepping motor and timing belt for controlled rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between support rollers is adjusted to accommodate work pieces with various radii, then the adaptability to different object sizes is improved, but the positional stability of the support rollers in the height direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller system is divided into multiple independent support rollers (first support roller and second support roller) that can be independently positioned. Each support roller can be adjusted to accommodate different work piece radii while maintaining stable positioning through individual control mechanisms, preventing the positional instability that occurs in unified adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional characteristics to different parts of the support system. The first and second support rollers have different positioning characteristics - one provides stable height positioning while the other accommodates radius variations. This local differentiation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both adaptability to various radii and consistency in gap distance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the support rollers are positioned to maintain a constant gap distance, then the printing accuracy is improved, but the ability to accommodate work pieces with various radii deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities where the first and second support rollers can be independently positioned along the rotation axis. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt to different work piece radii while maintaining a constant gap distance between the print head and the work piece surface, resolving the contradiction between precision and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the support roller system to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the first support roller maintains height positioning for gap consistency, while the second support roller accommodates radius variations. This multi-functionality allows a single system to achieve both constant gap distance and adaptability to various radii.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bar-shaped link elements are rotated to adjust the distance between support rollers, then the adaptability to various radii is improved, but the positional stability of support rollers in the height direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the height positioning function from the radius adjustment mechanism. Instead of using a unified link element system that couples height and radius adjustments, the invention separates these functions by providing independent support rollers that can be positioned along the rotation axis. This extraction eliminates the positional instability caused by coupled adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rollers act as intermediary elements between the work piece and the print head. They provide a stable interface that decouples the radius variation from height positioning, allowing the system to accommodate various radii while maintaining reliable positional stability for consistent gap distance.
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 enables high-accuracy printing on three-dimensional objects with cylindrical portions by maintaining a consistent gap distance and allowing for the rotation of the object, ensuring precise printing across the entire surface, even for objects with varying diameters and weights.
Implementation Method 1
a rotation driving section that includes a stepping motor and timing belt for controlled rotation
Implementation Method 2
a rotation driving section that includes a stepping motor and timing belt for controlled rotation
Data Source
Figure 1~1B
Figure 2~2B
Figure 3~3B
AI summary
An object is to appropriately perform printing on a three-dimensional object having a cylindrically shaped portion with high accuracy. As a solution, an ink jet printer that performs printing on the three-dimensional object using an ink jet scheme is provided, the printer includes an ink jet head, and a print object retaining section 18, the print object retaining section 18 includes a first shaft 102, a second shaft 104, a third shaft 106, and a rotation driving section 108, a distance between the first shaft 102 and the second shaft 104 is larger than a distance between the first shaft 102 and the third shaft 106, and in a case of performing printing on a three-dimensional object 50 having a cylindrically shaped portion, the print object retaining section 18 retains the three-dimensional object 50 by mounting the cylindrically shaped portion on the first shaft 102 and the second shaft 104, or on the first shaft 102 and the third shaft 106, and the rotation driving section 108 causes the three-dimensional object 50 to rotate by causing at least the first shaft 102 to rotate.