Printer Camera Loading-Room Rib Structure for Buckle-Free Film Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printer devices and cameras with printers that use instant films can cause buckling of the film due to low rotation speeds and large rotation loads, leading to the distal end of the film being caught and compressed, which results in buckling of the thin sheet-shaped recording medium.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a loading room with a slit and a loading room side rib that protrudes from the inner surface, along with a film pack side rib, to support the recording medium and prevent buckling by providing additional support at the edge where the claw member passes through.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the claw member sends out the instant film with low rotation speed and large rotation load, then the instant film can be ejected from the discharge port, but the distal end side of the instant film may be caught and the base end may receive compressive force causing buckling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection capabilityVSAvoidflatness of instant film
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The loading room side rib is provided at a specific local position (along the slit where the claw member passes) to provide localized support to the instant film. This local structural reinforcement prevents buckling at the critical location without affecting the overall ejection mechanism's functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The loading room inner surface is segmented by adding the loading room side rib that protrudes along the slit. This divides the previously uniform surface into distinct zones: the ribbed support area that prevents film buckling, and the rest of the loading room that maintains its original function. The segmentation allows different regions to serve different purposes simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the loading room side rib is provided to support the recording medium, then buckling is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflatness of recording mediumVSAvoidstructure of loading room
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The loading room side rib is integrated directly into the loading room structure, merging the support function with the existing loading room inner surface. Rather than adding a separate, independent support component, the rib is formed as part of the loading room itself, thereby providing structural support while minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The loading room side rib is a simple, inexpensive structural addition made from the same material as the loading room. It is a basic protruding feature rather than a complex mechanism, representing a cost-effective and simple solution to the buckling problem that does not require sophisticated or expensive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4124908B1Printer device and camera with printer
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4124908B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4124908B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4124908B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a printer device and a camera with a printer capable of preventing a recording medium from buckling in a case where the recording medium is sent out. A camera with a printer includes a loading room into which an instant film pack in which instant films are accommodated in a stacking manner is loaded, a slit formed in the loading room, a claw member that enters through the slit, and sends out the instant film, and a loading room side rib provided along the slit. The loading room side rib is formed at a position and with a protruding amount where the loading room side rib is capable of being inserted into the instant film pack loaded into the loading room.