Printer Carriage Positioning for Heat Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing devices, such as inkjet printers, heat-generating components can reach dangerous temperatures, posing a risk to users if a heat-radiating member is exposed and not properly contained, as it may also reach high temperatures when the printer's heat-generating parts exceed normal operating temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with a movable carriage that can stop over heat-generating parts when their temperature exceeds a predetermined value, ensuring the heat-generating parts are covered and reducing the risk of user contact with high-temperature components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat-radiating member is disposed exposed in an internal space opened by opening a cover, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to risk of touching high-temperature portions
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is made movable along the movement direction and can be dynamically positioned to cover the heat-generating part when abnormal temperature is detected. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt between normal operation (carriage away) and safety protection (carriage covering) states, resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation and user safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage acts as an intermediary element between the user and the heat-generating part. When abnormal temperature occurs, the carriage is positioned to cover the heat-generating part, serving as a physical barrier that protects users without requiring changes to the heat-radiating member's structure or position.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the carriage is stopped at a position covering the heat-generating part when temperature exceeds predetermined value, then user safety is improved, but printing operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary protection by positioning the carriage to cover the heat-generating part before actual contact can occur between users and hot components. This preventive action stops the harmful effect (heat exposure) before it can affect users, while the system can subsequently recover and resume operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature detecting part continuously monitors the heat-generating part's temperature and provides feedback to the control unit. When abnormal temperature is detected, the control unit responds by positioning the carriage to cover the heat-generating part. This feedback mechanism ensures safety while allowing normal operation to continue when temperatures are normal.
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
This solution enhances safety by promptly stopping the operation of heat-generating parts and preventing user contact with high-temperature areas, thereby improving user safety during abnormal temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a detecting part for detecting the temperature of the interior of the casing including the heat-generating part
Implementation Method 2
a drive signal generating circuit, which generates a drive signal for driving a drive element of the head, has an electric current amplifying circuit composed of a pair of transistors, and these transistors generate heat when a drive signal is generated. Printers use various different motors, and heat is similarly generated in motor drivers for driving the motors.
Implementation Method 3
there have been proposals of a printer which includes a heat-radiating member for radiating the heat generated by the transistors or other heat-generating parts
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device includes a casing having an opening, a carriage provided to be capable of moving within the casing, a heat-generating part provided inside the casing so as to be positioned deeper in from the opening than the carriage, and a detecting part for detecting the temperature of the interior of the casing; wherein when the detected temperature of the detecting part exceeds a predetermined value, the carriage is stopped at a position covering at least part of the heat-generating part as seen through the opening.