Printer Cover Gap Design Prevents Roll Paper Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers for roll paper face issues with roll paper discharge, where the printed roll paper can enter gaps between the main body cover and upper cover, leading to abnormal discharge or jamming, especially when the roll paper is curved.
Innovation Solution
The printer design incorporates a protrusion on the inner surface of the main body cover and a recess on the upper cover, creating a gap that intersects with the axial center of the roll paper, preventing it from entering the gap and ensuring proper discharge by maintaining a simple structure with high dimensional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the upper cover is closed tightly to maintain structural integrity, then the printer structure is stable, but the roll paper cannot be discharged properly due to gap blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The upper cover is divided into two parts: a fixed portion and a movable portion. The movable portion can be rotated to an opened position, creating a discharge gap that allows printed roll paper to exit smoothly without compromising the overall structural integrity when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper cover transitions from a static closed position to a dynamic opened position during paper discharge. The movable portion rotates to create temporary gaps, enabling paper ejection while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.
2Ease of operation
If a gap is created in the upper cover to allow paper discharge, then paper ejection is enabled, but the roll paper may enter the gap and cause jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The gap is created locally at the rear edge of the upper cover rather than throughout the entire cover structure. This localized gap is positioned and sized to allow paper discharge while minimizing the risk of paper entering and causing jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion of the upper cover acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the gap formation. It mediates between the need for paper discharge and the risk of jamming by creating a controlled opening that facilitates ejection while preventing paper from entering the internal gap space.
3Reliability
If the upper cover structure is made complex to prevent paper jamming, then reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The upper cover is segmented into fixed and movable portions that can be integrated into a single component design. This segmentation allows for straightforward manufacturing processes while achieving the reliability needed to prevent paper jamming through the movable discharge mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printer comprises a main body cover and an upper cover. The main body cover houses a roll paper, and an upper portion, the upper portion having an opening through which the roll paper can be loaded. The upper cover closes the opening of the main body cover, and has a gap in a direction in which at least one portion thereof intersects with an axial center of the roll paper housed in the main body cover with the main body cover.