Printer Component Layout for Height Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing recording apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face challenges in miniaturization due to the spatial constraints imposed by the arrangement of maintenance mechanisms, transporting rollers, power transmitting units, and pumps, which are typically placed on the side face, hindering the suppression of height dimensions in compact designs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with the maintenance portion, transporting roller, power transmitting unit, and pump arranged such that at least a part of each has the same height, with these components positioned along a direction intersecting with the rotational axis of the transporting roller, allowing for a more compact layout by placing them along the bottom face or side wall of the housing, thereby minimizing the height and width dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the maintenance mechanism, transporting roller, power transmitting unit, and pump are arranged on the side face of the apparatus, then the functional requirements are met, but the height dimension cannot be suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by rearranging the components from a side-face layout to a bottom-face layout. The maintenance mechanism, transporting roller, power transmitting unit, and pump are positioned along the bottom face of the housing, utilizing the width dimension instead of the height dimension. This allows the height dimension to be suppressed while maintaining all necessary functional relationships between components.
2Volume of stationary object
If the components are arranged to suppress height dimension, then miniaturization is achieved, but the functional layout becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into a compact arrangement along the bottom face. The maintenance mechanism, transporting roller, power transmitting unit, and pump are positioned in close proximity to each other, sharing common structural elements and space. This combining approach reduces the overall apparatus volume while the functional relationships are maintained through optimized spatial positioning rather than complex mechanical linkages.
3Ease of operation
If the maintenance mechanism is displaceably provided with respect to the recording head, then maintenance operations are enabled, but additional space is required for displacement movement
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance mechanism is positioned at the bottom of the housing rather than on the side face, allowing displacement movement to occur within the vertical space above the bottom face. This utilization of vertical space for displacement movement enables the maintenance mechanism to approach and service the recording head without requiring additional horizontal space, thus maintaining compact footprint while enabling maintenance operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a cap unit, a transporting driving roller, a power transmitting unit, and a pump. At least a part of each of the cap unit, the transporting driving roller, the power transmitting unit, and the pump has the same height in a height direction of the apparatus (a Z-axis direction) and the cap unit, the transporting driving roller, the power transmitting unit, and the pump are arranged along a direction (a Y-axis direction) intersecting with a rotational axis line direction (an X-axis direction) of the transporting driving roller. Therefore, it is possible to arrange so as to suppress each dimension of the cap unit, the transporting driving roller, the power transmitting unit, and the pump in a height direction and it is possible to contribute to the miniaturization of the apparatus.