Print Head Marking for Reassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Universal print heads become dedicated to specific color slots after initial installation, making reassembly challenging and time-consuming, as users must perform trial and error to correctly reinsert them into the print head carriage, potentially stressing insertion slots and printer electronics.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a marking portion on the print head that receives a marking indicative of its position in the print head housing through physical contact, allowing the print head to be easily identified and reassembled without confusion, using a marker element in the print head housing that punches a color or shape onto the print head when inserted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If universal print heads are used that can be inserted into any color slot, then flexibility and manufacturing efficiency are improved, but reassembly becomes time-consuming and complex when print heads are removed for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of universal print headsVSAvoidtime for reassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by marking the print head with its color slot assignment during the initial installation process. The marking is transferred from the carriage to the print head when inserted into the correct slot, so that upon removal and reassembly, the user can immediately identify which print head belongs in which slot without trial and error, thus resolving the time loss contradiction while maintaining universality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If trial and error replacement is performed to reinsert print heads into correct slots, then correct positioning is achieved, but insertion slots and printer electronics are stressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrect positioning of print headsVSAvoidstress on insertion slots and electronics

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The marking is applied in advance during initial installation, allowing users to correctly identify and insert print heads on subsequent reassembly without performing trial and error replacements. This eliminates the mechanical stress and electrical loading that would otherwise occur during repeated incorrect insertion attempts, while ensuring reliable correct positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If print heads are marked with color indication, then ease of reassembly is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional marking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of reassemblyVSAvoidcomplexity of marking mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by using the existing carriage structure itself to create the marking on the print head during initial installation. The physical contact between the carriage and print head during insertion automatically transfers a marking that indicates the correct slot assignment. This eliminates the need for separate marking mechanisms, devices, or procedures, thereby improving ease of reassembly without increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11738581B2Print head marking

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

A print head for printer comprises a marking portion to show a marketing that is indicative of a position of the print head in a print head housing, wherein the print head receives the marking due to physical contact with the print head housing.