Recording Apparatus With Multi-Position Body Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording apparatuses lack enhanced operability and user-friendly features, such as easy access to components and clear visual indicators for liquid levels and operational status.

Innovation Solution

A recording apparatus design that allows the body to be positioned between closed, first open, and second open positions, with integrated slide guides and rotation shafts for easy access, and includes color-coded areas and transparent windows for visual confirmation of liquid levels and operational status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the body is housed inside the housing in a closed position, then the recording apparatus has a compact structure, but user accessibility to components and visual indicators is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The body is designed to be movable between a closed position (housed inside the housing) and an open position (exterior to the housing) through a movable support structure with slide guides and rotation shafts. This dynamic configuration allows the system to transition between compact storage and accessible operational states, resolving the contradiction between compact structure and user accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The recording apparatus is divided into separable components: the housing, the movable support, and the body. This segmentation allows the body to be independently moved between positions, enabling user accessibility when needed while maintaining a compact overall structure when the body is housed inside the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If transparent windows are added to the housing, then visual confirmation of liquid levels and operational status is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual informationVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire housing transparent or adding complex transparent components, transparent windows are strategically placed only at specific locations where visual confirmation of liquid levels and operational status is needed. This local application of transparency provides the necessary visual information while minimizing the impact on manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If color-coded areas are implemented, then operational status indication is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational status visibilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Color-coded areas are integrated into the housing structure to visually indicate operational status and liquid levels. Different colors represent different states (e.g., liquid levels, operational modes), providing enhanced information feedback without requiring complex mechanical or electronic indicator systems, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP4253072B1Recording apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP4253072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4253072B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4253072B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A recording apparatus includes a recording unit (48) that performs recording on a medium, a body (21) in which the recording unit is mounted, a housing (20) configured to house the body, and a holding portion (66) configured to hold the body at a predetermined position with respect to the housing. The predetermined position includes a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position. The closed position is a position at which the body is housed inside the housing. The first open position is a position at which the body protrudes from the housing in a first position-change direction of a position-change direction intersecting with a vertical direction by a first distance. The second open position is a position at which the body protrudes from the housing in the first position-change direction by a second distance longer than the first distance. The body is configured to be changed in position in the position-change direction between the closed position, the first open position, and the second open position.