Platen Carry Positioning Mechanism for Accurate Printer Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing platen conveyance systems face issues with positional displacement during transfer, leading to potential misalignment in printing, especially when transitioning from a first conveyance path to a second path, which requires precise positioning for accurate printing.

Innovation Solution

The platen conveyance device employs a positioning portion with engaging and urging mechanisms to accurately position the platen at the prescribed printing position, using engaging portions that move in a first direction and are fixed in the first direction, and optionally a reference portion to stabilize the platen, ensuring precise alignment in multiple directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the platen is transferred from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path, then the platen can be conveyed to the printer, but positional displacement occurs leading to printing position misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaten conveyance efficiencyVSAvoidprinting position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning portion is activated before the printing process to preliminarily position the platen at the correct printing position. The engaged portion moves in the first direction to align the platen with the printer, ensuring that when printing commences, the platen is already precisely positioned, thereby preventing positional displacement during the conveyance from the first to the second conveyance path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the conveyance paths and the printer. It includes an engaged portion that moves relative to the platen support member and engaging portions that provide reference positioning, serving as a mediator to transfer the platen from the conveyance path to the printing position while maintaining alignment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a positioning mechanism is added to reduce positional displacement, then printing accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting position accuracyVSAvoidpositioning mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning portion is segmented into distinct functional components: the engaged portion that moves in the first direction, the engaging portions that provide reference positioning, and the platen support member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while achieving precise positioning without requiring a complex monolithic mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the entire platen support member to achieve positioning, the engaged portion moves relative to the platen support member in the first direction. This inverted approach where the positioning element moves rather than the loaded element reduces the complexity of the positioning mechanism while maintaining positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4082949B1Platen carry device

Publication Date: 2025.08.27 BROTHER KOGYO KK

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AI summary

A print system is provided with a conveyance mechanism, a platen support member (60), a print conveyance mechanism, and a first positioning cylinder (70). The conveyance mechanism conveys a platen (50) to a pretreatment device. The platen support member (60) supports the platen (50) conveyed by the conveyance mechanism. The print conveyance mechanism is provided with the platen support member (60) and conveys the platen support member (60) to a printer. The first positioning cylinder (70) positions the platen (50) supported by the platen support member (60) at a prescribed printing position in a front-rear direction.