Optical Sensor Removal Mechanism for Printing Apparatus Carriage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, the optical sensor mounted on the carriage is difficult to mount and remove due to its location on the back surface, especially when the carriage is large, making maintenance and replacement challenging.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus design featuring an optical sensor mounting member fixed to a support surface of the carriage, with a switchable operated part that allows easy transition between fixed and released states, enabling the optical sensor to be easily mounted and removed without removing the carriage from the guide, and featuring screw holes and protrusions for secure attachment and access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical sensor is mounted on the back surface of the carriage, then the optical sensor can be positioned to read the optical scale, but it becomes difficult to mount and remove the optical sensor when the carriage is large
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor mounting structure is segmented into a carriage body and a separately removable optical sensor mounting member. The optical sensor is mounted on the optical sensor mounting member rather than directly on the carriage, allowing the sensor assembly to be detached and replaced without removing the entire carriage from the carriage guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor mounting member is extracted as a separate removable component from the carriage structure. This allows the optical sensor to be taken out, cleaned, or replaced by simply detaching the optical sensor mounting member from the carriage, solving the accessibility problem when the carriage is large.
2Device complexity
If the optical sensor is directly mounted on the carriage, then the structure is simple, but the optical sensor becomes difficult to access for cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into the carriage, the optical sensor mounting member, and the optical sensor itself. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and service the optical sensor by removing only the optical sensor mounting member, which can be detached from the carriage without complex disassembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor mounting member acts as an intermediary component between the carriage and the optical sensor. It provides a removable interface that simplifies maintenance operations, allowing the optical sensor to be accessed and serviced without directly manipulating the carriage structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the operated part is located on the support surface side, then the optical sensor mounting member can be fixed securely, but access for switching between fixed and released states becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the operated part (screw head) on the support surface side where it would be secure but inaccessible, the screw head is inverted to protrude from the side opposite the support surface. This allows easy access for tightening and loosening operations while the screw shaft still provides secure fixation when engaged with the mounting hole in the carriage.
Solution Approach 2:
The operated part is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the support surface. The screw head protrudes laterally from the optical sensor mounting member rather than being positioned on the support surface side, providing accessibility from the side while maintaining secure mounting when engaged with the carriage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy replacement and maintenance of the optical sensor by allowing it to be switched between fixed and released states without removing the carriage, preventing screw loss during attachment and removal, and ensuring easy access and wiring, thus improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor mounting member having an optical sensor mounted thereon to read the optical scale of the optical scale member
Data Source
AI summary
The printing apparatus includes a carriage having a print head mounted thereon, a carriage guide configured to guide movement of the carriage and to support the carriage, an optical scale member having an optical scale, an optical sensor mounting member having an optical sensor mounted thereon to read the optical scale, the optical sensor mounting member being fixed to a support surface of a support wall of the carriage, and a head portion of the fixing screw configured to be switched between a fixed state in which the optical sensor mounting member is fixed to the carriage and a release state in which the fixed state is released. The head of the fixing screw is located on a side opposite to the support surface with respect to the support wall when the optical sensor mounting member is in the fixed state.