Medium support device and recording device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medium support devices for recording devices, such as those used in printing on fabrics, face difficulties in improving the workability of attaching and detaching spacers, which requires detaching the stage and rotary lever, making the process cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A medium support device with a support base movable in the vertical direction, featuring a spacer that can be inserted and pulled out in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, allowing for easier attachment and detachment without needing to detach the movement mechanism or support base.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a substantially ring-shaped spacer is fitted into a fitting section of an arm, then the spacer can be attached to adjust medium thickness, but it requires detaching the stage and rotary lever, making the attachment and detachment process cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability for different medium thicknessVSAvoidworkability of attaching and detaching the spacer

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer is divided into a first spacer and a second spacer that can be attached separately to the stage. This segmentation allows each spacer to be independently positioned and fixed without requiring detachment of other components, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different thicknesses while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spacers are pre-positioned at specific locations on the stage before the medium is placed. This preliminary positioning allows the spacers to be in place and ready for use without requiring complex attachment procedures during operation, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the spacer is positioned to contact the arm, then the structure is simple, but it interferes with the movement of the arm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidinterference with arm movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers are extracted from the arm structure and repositioned to be attached directly to the stage. This extraction removes the harmful interference with arm movement while maintaining the functional role of the spacers in supporting different medium thicknesses, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and avoiding interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stage serves as an intermediary component that holds the spacers at fixed positions. This intermediary arrangement allows the spacers to function without being attached to the moving arm, eliminating interference with arm movement while maintaining the necessary structural support through the stage as the mediating element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240239116A1Medium support device and recording device

Publication Date: 2024.07.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A medium support device 7 includes a support base 5 that supports a T-shirt F; a movement mechanism 6 that supports the support base 5 so that the support base 5 is movable in a direction along a Z-axis; a base section 8 configured to support the movement mechanism 6; and a spacer 10 arranged between the movement mechanism 6 and the base section 8 in the direction along the Z-axis, wherein the spacer 10 can be inserted and pulled out in a direction along a Y-axis.