Photo Printer Eccentric Head Support Gap Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional photo printers face issues with inconsistent gaps between the head and platen roller due to mechanical errors, making it difficult to maintain a constant printing quality and requiring complex platen roller replacement, while also being prone to foreign substance attachment that degrades image quality.

Innovation Solution

The photo printer employs head supporting members with eccentric portions that can be rotated to form a consistent gap between the head and platen roller, allowing for easy adjustment and maintenance, along with detachable platen rollers and a cleaning mechanism to prevent foreign substance attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If locking projections and stoppers are used to form a gap between the head and platen roller, then the gap formation is achieved, but the gap becomes inconsistent due to mechanical errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegap consistencyVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an eccentric portion with a predetermined eccentricity to change the geometric parameter of the head supporting member. By rotating this eccentric member, the gap between the head and platen roller can be adjusted and standardized, eliminating the inconsistency caused by mechanical errors in locking projections and stoppers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex locking projection and stopper mechanism with a simpler eccentric member rotation system. The gap formation is achieved through the rotational position of the eccentric portion rather than through complex mechanical locking, thereby reducing device complexity while improving gap consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the platen roller is pressurized against the head, then paper feeding is achieved, but the platen roller becomes difficult to replace

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper feeding functionVSAvoidplaten roller replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the platen roller assembly into separable components - the platen roller itself and its mounting structure on the base. This segmentation allows the platen roller to be easily removed and replaced without affecting the entire printing mechanism, while still maintaining the pressurization function during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If the head is pressurized against the paper, then heat transfer is improved, but foreign substances may attach to the platen roller degrading image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidforeign substance attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the platen roller as a separate, removable component that can be independently maintained. This allows foreign substances to be removed from the platen roller surface through easy access, preventing degradation of image quality while maintaining the necessary pressurization for heat transfer during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This solution ensures a consistent gap is maintained between the head and platen roller, facilitating easy maintenance and preventing foreign substance attachment, thereby improving printing quality and simplifying the replacement process.

Implementation Method 1

head supporting members provided on side walls of the base to support the front side of the swing bracket under the swing bracket and each having an eccentric portion adapted to lift the head up through rotation and thus to form a gap between the head and the platen roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric rotation: Eccentric

Implementation Method 2

the head 140 is adapted to apply given heat to the paper to express colors corresponding to the given heat, thereby printing images or texts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11117397B2Photo printer

Publication Date: 2021.09.14 DS GLOBAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a photo printer including: a base for accommodating paper therein; a pick-up roller protruding from a bottom surface of the base to feed the paper accommodated in the base in a forward direction; a platen roller for discharging in the forward direction the paper; a head provided above the platen roller to apply heat to the paper; a swing bracket having a front side to which the head is coupled and a rear side rotatably coupled to the base; pressurizing means for pressurizing the swing bracket down to allow the swing bracket to come into close contact with the paper; and head supporting members provided on side walls of the base to support the front side of the swing bracket under the swing bracket and each having an eccentric portion adapted to lift the head up through rotation.