Pivoting Display Holder for Sensor-Based Angle Control and Damage Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display systems in goods processing devices, such as franking machines, lack precise control over the display's inclination and are prone to damage from manual adjustments, with inaccuracies in determining the angle of inclination and difficulty in maintaining the desired viewing angle for different users.

Innovation Solution

A display module with a pivotable display holder and a control unit that includes sensors for detecting the display's inclination, a motor for motorized pivoting, and additional actuation means for manual adjustment, along with a control unit that stores and retrieves the optimal tilt angle for each user, ensuring precise and damage-resistant operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display is made manually adjustable, then the viewing angle can be adapted to different users, but the display is prone to damage from excessive manual pressure and coarse adjustment steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angle adaptabilityVSAvoiddisplay damage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual adjustment system with an electromechanical system. A motor (24) driven by a control unit (7) takes over the adjustment function, allowing precise control of the display inclination angle without requiring manual force from users, thereby preventing damage while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit (7) acts as an intermediary between the user's adjustment request and the motor-driven display holder (54). It receives the desired angle input, calculates the required motor rotation, and executes the adjustment, mediating between human intent and mechanical action to ensure precise and safe operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the display inclination is determined using acceleration sensors, then the angle can be measured, but trigonometric calculations result in inaccuracies at inflection points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinclination angle measurementVSAvoidangle determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the acceleration sensor data to automatically determine the display inclination angle without requiring external calibration or manual intervention. The control unit (7) processes the sensor signals and self-adjusts the display holder (54) to the correct angle, making the system self-correcting and eliminating the need for precise manual calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment where the display holder (54) can be continuously repositioned by the motor (24) based on real-time sensor feedback. This dynamic system allows the display to adapt its inclination angle continuously rather than being fixed at manufacturing precision points, overcoming the limitations of static calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If a locking mechanism is added to secure the display, then the display position can be maintained, but the adjustment process becomes more complex and may require excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay position stabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical locking mechanisms with an electromechanical system. The motor (24) provides continuous positioning capability, and the control unit (7) maintains the desired angle through electronic control, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity while improving stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system allows for precise adjustment and storage of the display's tilt angle, protecting against manual damage and ensuring optimal viewing conditions for each user, enhancing user experience and device durability.

Implementation Method 1

an inclination sensor, in particular an acceleration sensor, is mounted on the adjustable component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3564910B1Goods processing apparatus with a pivoting display and method for determining the inclination of the display
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 FRANCOTYP POSTALIA AG & CO KG
  • EP3564910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3564910B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3564910B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A product processing device is equipped with an inkjet printer for producing prints on printing media, a control unit, input and output means, and a display module (5). The display module (5) comprises a display module carrier (53), a swiveling display holder (54), and a display housing, wherein a display border is arranged around a display screen and a display housing frame (52) surrounds the display border. At least one additional actuation means of the display module is provided on the display border to manually trigger motorized swiveling of the display screen. At least one sensor (521) and the control unit (7) are provided for detecting a tilt of the display screen. The detected data of the sensor (521) transmitted to the control unit correspond to a tilt angle α of a line of inclination N lying on the surface of the display screen (50) to a horizontal H extending in the y-direction.A motor (M4) is provided for the motorized swiveling of the display screen and is equipped with a gearbox that reduces the motor's revolutions and transmits them via a gearbox shaft (532) to an overload protection device. A pinion gear (534) of the overload protection device engages with a gear segment (541) of the swiveling display holder (54). Furthermore, a method is provided to determine and store data relating to the tilt of a component, such as the display.