Media Roll Holder Assembly With Self-Aligning Drive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wide format roll printing, the alignment of drive engaging elements in non-gear based media roll holder assemblies, such as Oldham couplings, is cumbersome and reduces productivity due to the need for manual orientation and alignment at both ends of long rollers.
Innovation Solution
A media roll holder assembly with a rotational drive and guide surfaces that direct the drive engaging element into a predetermined orientation, allowing easy loading by moving the roller along a first guide surface, which contacts a second guide surface at an angle, ensuring proper alignment without obstructing the roller's movement, and a tapered positioning recess to secure the roller in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual alignment of drive engaging elements is used in non-gear based media roll holder assemblies, then the coupling mechanism can be implemented, but the alignment process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface automatically orients the drive engaging element during the loading process. As the operator inserts the roller, the guide surface passively rotates the drive engaging element into the correct alignment with the roll engaging element, eliminating the need for manual orientation adjustments by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface acts as an intermediary element between the drive engaging element and the roll engaging element. It facilitates the alignment process by providing a physical surface that the drive engaging element contacts and follows, guiding it into the proper orientation without requiring direct manual intervention.
2Reliability
If manual orientation of drive engaging elements is required at both ends of long rollers, then the coupling can be achieved, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface enables the drive engaging element to self-align during insertion. The automatic orientation mechanism eliminates the need for operators to perform time-consuming manual alignment at both ends of long rollers, thereby maintaining reliable coupling while significantly improving loading productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the second guide surface is positioned to contact the drive engaging element, then proper orientation is achieved, but it must not block roller movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is designed with localized contact geometry that provides precise orientation only where needed. The contact area is positioned and shaped to orient the drive engaging element without creating obstruction to the overall roller insertion path, allowing simultaneous achievement of precision orientation and easy loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface utilizes angular positioning in three-dimensional space to achieve orientation without blocking linear motion. By arranging the guide surface at a specific angle relative to the roller axis, it provides rotational guidance while leaving the translational insertion path open, separating the orientation function from the movement path.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
A media roll holder assembly (20) for a roll (R1) that is detachably supported in a printing system (1). A rotational drive (55) comprising a roll engaging element (56) configured for fittingly engaging and driving a drive engaging element (83) of a roller (R1), for example an Oldham coupling. A first guide surface (51) is configured to support and direct the roller (R1) in a loading direction. A second guide surface (60) at least partially extends at an angle with respect to the first guide surface (51), such that movement of the roller (R1) over the first guide surface (51) brings the drive engaging element (83) in contact with the second guide surface (60). The second guide surface (60) directs the drive engaging element (83) into a predetermined orientation, which orientation aligns the drive engaging element (83) with the roll engaging element (56) in a loading orientation, such that further movement of the roller (R1) in the loading direction inserts the drive engaging element (83) into the roll engaging element (56).