Lubricant Guiding Unit for Recording Apparatus Guide Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sliding contact between the carriage bearing and guide shaft in recording and liquid ejecting apparatuses experiences lubricant loss due to repeated operation, leading to increased vibration resistance, noise, and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant guiding unit with a cylindrical member loosely fitted on the guide shaft is rotated during carriage movement, ensuring consistent lubricant supply to the sliding contact portion, even as the lubricant is gradually lost, thereby maintaining reduced load and improving durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If grease is applied on the guide shaft to smooth sliding, then sliding resistance is reduced, but lubricant is gradually lost from the sliding contact portion leading to increased vibration resistance and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
A lubricant guiding unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the lubricant source and the sliding contact portion. This unit includes a cylindrical member with through-holes that actively guides and delivers lubricant to the sliding contact portion between the carriage bearing and guide shaft, ensuring continuous lubrication and preventing lubricant loss during repeated operations
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant guiding unit performs preliminary action by pre-positioning and continuously supplying lubricant to the sliding contact portion before significant wear or lubricant depletion occurs. The through-holes in the cylindrical member are strategically positioned to deliver lubricant in advance to the contact surfaces, maintaining optimal lubrication conditions throughout operation
2Reliability
If the cylindrical member is rotated during carriage movement, then lubricant is continuously supplied to the sliding contact portion, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant guiding unit is merged with the existing carriage structure. The cylindrical member is loosely fitted on the guide shaft and rotates together with the carriage, combining the lubricant delivery function with the existing moving components. This integration avoids adding independent complex drive mechanisms for the lubricant delivery system
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant guiding unit utilizes the existing motion of the carriage to rotate the cylindrical member and distribute lubricant automatically. The rotation of the cylindrical member during carriage movement self-activates the lubricant delivery mechanism through the through-holes, eliminating the need for external actuators or complex control systems
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
The lubricant guiding unit effectively maintains lubricant presence at the sliding contact, reducing vibration resistance and noise, and enhancing the durability of the apparatus by ensuring continuous lubrication.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant guiding unit which guides a lubricant to a sliding contact portion between the carriage and the guide shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a carriage which includes a recording head performing recording on a medium and is movable in a first direction; a shaft-shaped guide shaft which guides the carriage in the first direction and extends in the first direction; and a lubricant guiding unit which guides a lubricant to a sliding contact portion between the carriage and the guide shaft, wherein the lubricant guiding unit includes a cylindrical member which is loosely fitted on outside the guide shaft and the cylindrical member is rotated when the carriage is moved.