Nozzle Cap Mechanism With Front-Side Access in Liquid Ejection Heads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses require operators to adjust moving units from the lateral side, necessitating a work space that compromises convenience and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus design allowing operators to adjust moving units from the front side using operation shafts and knobs, eliminating the need for lateral space and enhancing operational convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the moving unit is operated from the lateral side, then the horizontal shaft portion can rotate with the cam plate in contact with the cap, but it requires lateral work space that reduces operator convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operation direction from lateral (horizontal) to front-rear (vertical in the drawing orientation). The operation shaft extends in the front-rear direction, allowing the operator to operate the moving unit from the front side rather than from the lateral side, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and space requirement
2Ease of operation
If the operation shaft extends in the front-rear direction, then the moving unit can be operated from the front side, but the shaft must pass through the housing which complicates the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The operation shaft is extracted from the housing through a through-hole, separating the operation interface from the internal mechanism. This allows the shaft to be operated from the front side while maintaining a relatively simple housing structure with minimal modification (just the through-hole)
Solution Approach 2:
The operation shaft acts as an intermediary element that transmits the operator's input from the front side to the moving unit inside the housing. It bridges the gap between the external operation interface and the internal mechanism without requiring complex structural modifications
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a head having a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid are opened, a carriage that moves along first direction intersecting vertical direction while supporting the head, a cap that covers the nozzle surface, and a moving unit that moves the cap along the vertical direction between a cap position at which the cap covers the nozzle surface and a separated position at which the cap is separated from the nozzle surface, wherein the moving unit is operable by an operator from a front side along second direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction.