Pivotable Heater Braking Mechanism for Jam Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face difficulties in removing a jammed medium between the heater and the medium support unit due to the pivoting mechanism, which can cause the medium to become stuck, making it challenging to clear jams.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a pivotable heater configured to move away from the medium support unit, equipped with a braking mechanism that reduces pivoting speed through sliding resistance, allowing for easier removal of jams by maximizing the distance between the heater and support unit and minimizing impact during pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the heater and medium support unit are positioned close to each other for compact design, then the device size is reduced, but medium removal becomes difficult when jammed
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is designed to be pivotable about a hinge portion, transforming from a static compact structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. This allows the heater to move between a first position (close to medium support unit for compact operation) and a second position (far from medium support unit for easy medium removal), resolving the contradiction between compact design and ease of medium removal.
2Speed
If the heater pivots quickly to remove jams, then medium removal speed is improved, but impact and wear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
A braking mechanism is incorporated that provides resistance during the pivoting motion of the heater. This braking mechanism cushions the pivoting action by converting kinetic energy into friction energy, reducing impact and wear on the hinge portion and other components while still allowing relatively quick medium removal.
3Ease of operation
If the heater is positioned far from the medium support unit, then medium removal is easier, but the device becomes more complex and larger
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable heater design allows the system to achieve easy medium removal (heater far from medium support unit) only when needed, while maintaining a compact configuration (heater close to medium support unit) during normal operation. This dynamic adjustment minimizes the need for permanently larger dimensions and reduces overall device complexity compared to a permanently extended configuration.
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
The solution enables straightforward removal of jammed media by ensuring the heater pivots away from the support unit, reducing the risk of further jamming and extending the service life of components by minimizing wear through controlled pivoting speed and resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed to face the medium support unit and configured to heat the medium supported by the medium support unit
Implementation Method 2
the pivoting speed of the heater is reduced by a sliding resistance between the engaging portion and the guiding part
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet-type printer includes a recording mechanism performing recording on a continuous sheet transported along a transport path, a transport base and frames disposed downstream of the recording mechanism in the transport path and supporting the continuous sheet, on which the recording has been performed by the recording mechanism, and a heating unit disposed facing the transport base and the frames and heating the continuous sheet supported by the transport base and the frames. The heating unit is pivotable away from the transport base and the frames about a hinge portion serving as a pivoting center disposed at an end portion of the heating unit downstream in the transport direction of the continuous sheet.