Printer Cover Latching System with Inverted Control Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers with separable transport rollers for easy loading of paper rolls often have non-intuitive latching systems that are difficult to open, especially in environments with strong vibrations like mobile vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A latching system where the control member is connected to an operating element on the cover, hinged to engage a striker element, with an elastic member urging rotation in the same direction as the cover, allowing intuitive and easy unlocking and opening by aligning the rotation direction of the operating element with the cover's rotation direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latching system with control lever is used to lock the cover, then the cover is securely locked, but the unlocking operation becomes non-intuitive and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The control member is hinged to the cover rather than the support structure, inverting the traditional latching mechanism. This allows the control member to move in the same direction as the cover (clockwise for opening), making the operation intuitive. The control member rotates about a hinge axis on the cover and engages/disengages from the striker element on the support structure, reversing the conventional approach while maintaining secure locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The control member acts as an intermediary between the user's manual operation and the latching mechanism. By being hinged to the cover and connected to the striker element, it translates the user's clockwise rotation into the engagement or disengagement of the latch, providing an intuitive interface that matches the natural opening direction of the cover.
2Ease of operation
If the control member is hinged to the cover and moves in the same direction, then the opening operation becomes intuitive, but the latching system may be less secure under strong vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The latching system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the control member hinged to the cover for intuitive operation, the striker element fixed to the support structure for stability, and the elastic member providing resilient force. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally - the control member provides intuitive operation while the striker and elastic member combination ensures vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member provides self-service by automatically urging the control member into the engaged position with the striker element. This resilient force ensures that vibrations do not cause accidental disengagement, as the elastic member continuously pushes the control member toward engagement, maintaining the latched state without requiring additional active components or complex mechanisms.
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
The solution provides a secure and easy-to-open latching system that can withstand vibrations, allowing the cover to be opened with minimal user effort and maintaining a secure lock, even in challenging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
said at least one operating element being associated with at least one elastic member configured to urge said at least one operating element in a rotation direction concordant with the rotation direction of the cover from the open position to the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a support structure the is fixed in use, and in which a receptacle is formed for receiving a roll of paper tape. The printer also includes a cover hinged to a rotation axis substantially parallel to the unwinding axis of the roll of paper tape, and which is oscillatable between a closed position and an open position in which it covers and uncovers the receptacle, respectively. The printer also includes a printing device carried by the support structure, and a transport roller for paper tape unwound from the roll of paper tape, cooperating with the printing device. The cover includes a control member arranged on a flank of the cover and operable manually to disable a latching system and unlock the cover from the closed position. A control member is connected to the operating element, which may be rotated according to the opening direction of the cover.