Liquid Ejecting Unit Pivot Shaft Engaging Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, the cap often fails to maintain sufficient pressure contact with the adjustable liquid ejecting unit, leading to inadequate ink ejection characteristics due to the urging force acting on the unit, which shifts in position when pressed by the cap.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a pivot shaft, cams, and an engaging portion that restricts the movement of the liquid ejecting unit by engaging with an engaged portion from a direction different from the cap's movement direction, allowing the cap to contact the unit with sufficient pressure and adjust its position between two heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap contacts the liquid ejecting unit to maintain ink ejection characteristics, then the ink ejection characteristics are maintained, but the liquid ejecting unit shifts in position due to the urging force
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion acts as an intermediary between the cap and the liquid ejecting unit. When the cap presses the liquid ejecting unit, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion to prevent position shift, while allowing the cap to maintain contact pressure for ink ejection characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The urging force from the cap is segmented into two functional components: one component allows the liquid ejecting unit to move for position adjustment, while the other component is blocked by the engaging portion to prevent excessive position shift, thereby maintaining both ink ejection characteristics and position stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the liquid ejecting unit is made movable to adjust gap size, then the adaptability to different medium distances is improved, but the cap cannot contact the unit with sufficient pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts between two states: during normal operation, the liquid ejecting unit can move to adjust gap size for different medium distances; during capping operation, the engaging portion engages to prevent movement and ensure sufficient contact pressure from the cap
3Stability of the object's composition
If the engaging portion pivots with the pivot shaft to engage from a different direction, then the position shift is restricted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion is merged with the pivot shaft, sharing the same pivot motion. This integration allows the engaging portion to engage with the engaged portion from a different direction while using the existing pivot shaft structure, thereby restricting position shift without significantly increasing device complexity
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 ensures the cap can contact the liquid ejecting unit with sufficient pressure, maintaining appropriate ink ejection characteristics and reducing the risk of movement-induced faults, while allowing for efficient adjustment of the unit's position and reduced risk of pivoting.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cams that are spaced from each other in the width direction and move the liquid ejecting unit by pivoting together with the pivot shaft and contacting the liquid ejecting unit
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects an ink from a nozzle to a sheet transported, an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height position of the liquid ejecting unit by moving the liquid ejecting unit, a cap capable of tightly closing a space that the nozzle faces, and a moving mechanism that moves the cap between a tightly closing position and a non-tightly closing position. The adjustment mechanism includes a pivot shaft provided along a width direction, a plurality of cams that moves the liquid ejecting unit by pivoting together with the pivot shaft and contacting the liquid ejecting unit, and an engaging portion capable of pivoting together with the pivot shaft and engaging with an engaged portion that is provided on the liquid ejecting apparatus.