Liquid Discharge Cover With Retractable Stage Clearance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing the opening and closing of components while minimizing space occupation and preventing ink mist scattering during operation.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a stage with a guide rail and sliding opening-and-closing covers that include retractable retraction portions, such as doors or slide portions, to facilitate access for maintenance and prevent interference with the stage and covers during vertical movement, while using airflow to collect ink mist.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the opening-and-closing cover is made slidable to expose and cover the interior of the liquid discharge apparatus, then ease of operation is improved, but the cover may interfere with the stage during vertical movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidinterference with stage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening-and-closing cover is divided into a cover body and a retraction portion. The retraction portion can be separated and retracted upward when the stage moves vertically, preventing interference between the cover and stage while maintaining the covering function of the cover body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retraction portion is designed to be movable relative to the cover body. It can dynamically change its position between covering the interior and retracting upward, adapting to the vertical movement of the stage and eliminating interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the retraction portion is designed to be swingable around a rotation shaft, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the rotation shaft position may cause interference with the stage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidinterference with stage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation shaft is intentionally positioned asymmetrically relative to the lower end of the retraction portion. By shifting the rotation shaft in the conveyance direction, the design creates an asymmetric configuration that prevents the retraction portion from interfering with the stage during vertical movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of operation

If the opening-and-closing cover is made slidable in the conveyance direction, then ease of operation is improved, but space occupation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidspace occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The retraction portion is designed to move in the vertical direction (upward) rather than only in the conveyance direction. This dimensional change allows the retraction portion to clear the stage path without requiring additional horizontal space, thus preventing interference while maintaining compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12415375B2Liquid discharge apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a stage, a guide rail, and an opening-and-closing cover. The liquid discharge head discharges a liquid to a recording medium. The stage moves in a vertical direction to move the recording medium on the stage. The guide rail holds the stage. The stage is movable in a conveyance direction intersecting the vertical direction. The opening-and-closing cover is slidable in one of the conveyance direction and a main scanning direction intersecting both the conveyance direction and the vertical direction. The opening-and-closing cover includes a retraction portion retractable above the stage.