Print Head Cable Layout for Compact Printer Height Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing devices require additional space above the functional droplet ejection head for the flexible flat cable, increasing the device's height and size.
Innovation Solution
The connection cable is disposed in a region where the head is movable and positioned lower than the head, with an intermediate fixing section and cable support section to stabilize and house the cable, allowing the head to move smoothly while minimizing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible flat cable is suspended above the functional droplet ejection head, then the cable can be connected and supported, but the device size in the height direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the cable from the vertical dimension (suspended above the head) to the horizontal dimension (disposed in the region where the head moves). The cable is positioned in the space lower than the head within the head movement region, transforming the spatial arrangement from vertical suspension to horizontal laying, thereby reducing device height while maintaining cable connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is nested within the existing head movement space rather than requiring additional vertical space. By disposing the cable in the region where the head moves and positioning it lower than the head, the cable utilizes the already-available horizontal space, effectively nesting the cable within the operational envelope of the printing head
Data Source
AI summary
The printing device includes a head 36 that prints on a medium, a medium support section that has a support surface to support the medium, a head movement section 40 that mounts the head 36 and moves in the front-rear direction Y while straddling the medium support section in the width direction, a control section that controls the head 36, and a connection cable 55 that connects the head 36 and the control section, wherein, the connection cable 55 is located in the region where the head 36 can move in the front-back direction Y and in the space lower than the head 36 in the lower direction Z2.