Multi-function peripheral carriage height reduction via offset driving source
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing multi-function peripherals with combined printer and scanner units face a height increase issue due to the large storage space required for the carriage supporting the recording head and the motor in the printer unit and scanner unit, respectively, when lined up in an up and down configuration.
Innovation Solution
The design overlaps the carriage for recording and the driving source of the image reading unit in the up and down direction, with the driving source positioned to deviate from the movement area of the carriage for recording, and incorporates a concave portion for the driving source and flexible cable storage to optimize space usage, allowing the guide rail to support the carriage for reading without increasing the height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the printer unit and scanner unit are lined up in the up and down direction, then the multi-function peripheral achieves a compact horizontal footprint, but the entire height is increased due to the large storage space required for the carriage and motor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional reorganization by allowing the driving source to be positioned in a different horizontal location than the carriage it drives. Specifically, the driving source is disposed at a position deviating from the carriage's movement area in the up-down direction, enabling vertical overlap between the carriage and driving source. This transforms the spatial arrangement from requiring separate vertical zones to allowing shared vertical space at different horizontal positions, thereby reducing the overall height while maintaining the compact horizontal footprint.
2Extent of automation
If the motor is mounted in the carriage for reading, then the carriage achieves self-propelled movement, but the entire height is increased due to the large storage space required for both the carriage and motor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the driving source from the carriage structure and positions it separately at a location deviating from the carriage's movement area. This separation allows the driving source to be positioned in the vertical space below or above the carriage without interfering with the carriage's horizontal movement path. The extraction principle enables the motor to remain mounted on the carriage for self-propelled operation while the main body of the driving source occupies separate vertical space, thus maintaining automation while reducing overall height.
3Volume of moving object
If the carriage for recording and carriage for reading are given sufficient storage space, then both carriages can move freely, but the overall height of the multi-function peripheral is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space conflict by utilizing the horizontal dimension to separate the driving sources from their respective carriages. The driving source for the carriage for reading is positioned at a location deviating from the carriage's movement area in the up-down direction, allowing vertical overlap. This enables both carriages to have adequate operational space while the driving sources occupy vertical space that would otherwise be wasted, thereby reducing the overall height without compromising the carriages' movement freedom.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-function peripheral includes: a recording unit having a carriage for recording which supports and moves a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium; and an image reading unit having a carriage for reading which supports and moves a reading sensor for reading an image and a driving source which is mounted in the carriage for reading in order to move the carriage for reading. The carriage for reading moves above the carriage for recording, and the driving source of the image reading unit is disposed to overlap with the carriage for recording in an up and down direction at a position deviating from a movement area of the carriage for recording.