Printer Carriage Roller Positioning for Compact Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses, such as printers, face challenges in reducing size, particularly in the depth direction, which is crucial for mobile printers where space efficiency is essential.
Innovation Solution
The recording apparatus is designed with a carriage that includes a recording head and support members extending in the carriage movement direction, where the driving roller is located below the support member in the medium transport direction, allowing the recording head and components to be positioned closer to the upstream side, thereby reducing the overall size. Additionally, the driven roller is larger than the driving roller to prevent the 'kick-off' phenomenon, and the support member is made of frame material to minimize height, with a discharge roller positioned below a second frame material to reduce depth size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the driving roller and support member are positioned separately in the medium transport direction, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the apparatus size in the depth direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driving roller with the support member by positioning the driving roller below the support member and within its area in the medium transport direction. This integration allows the driving roller to be supported by the support member structure itself, eliminating the need for separate support structures and reducing the overall apparatus size in the depth direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the driving roller from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement below the support member. By changing the spatial dimension from horizontal placement to vertical placement, the apparatus achieves compactness in the depth direction while maintaining functional integrity through the support member's structural design.
2Reliability
If the diameter of the driven roller is larger than the driving roller, then the kick-off phenomenon is prevented, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different diameter sizes to different rollers based on their specific functions. The driven roller has a larger diameter to provide sufficient friction and prevent kick-off phenomenon during medium transport, while the driving roller has a smaller diameter optimized for its driving function. This localized differentiation of dimensions ensures each component performs its function effectively without unnecessarily increasing overall apparatus size.
3Volume of moving object
If the recording head is positioned closer to the upstream side, then the apparatus size in depth direction is reduced, but the medium alignment precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the recording head and components closer to the upstream side in advance, before the medium reaches that position. This preliminary positioning allows the medium to be properly aligned and guided as it enters the recording area, ensuring that even with the compact arrangement, the medium maintains correct alignment with the recording head throughout the recording process.
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 configuration effectively reduces the size of the recording apparatus in the medium transport direction, prevents the 'kick-off' phenomenon, and maintains recording accuracy by ensuring the medium is properly aligned with the recording head, enhancing the portability and efficiency of the printer.
Implementation Method 1
a driven roller which is pressed to the driving roller and is rotationally driven in contact with the medium
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a printer which includes a carriage which includes a recording head performing recording on a paper sheet, a transport driving roller which transports the paper sheet to the recording head side and is driven by a driving source, and a transport driven roller which is pressed to the transport driving roller, is rotationally driven in contact with the paper sheet, and has a diameter larger than that of the transport driving roller. The transport driving roller is located below a guide frame as a support member supporting the carriage and is located in an area of the guide frame in a paper transport direction (in other words, a y direction).