Upper Cover Pneumatic Cushioning for Heavy Printer Supplies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer designs with cushioning members, such as torsion springs, fail to effectively support the upper cover when the weight of supplies like ink ribbons increases, leading to insufficient cushioning and rapid closure of the cover.
Innovation Solution
A printer apparatus with a cushioning member comprising a cylinder with varying inner diameters, a reciprocating piston, and a piston rod, which slows down the closure of the upper cover by managing internal pressure and using air flow to absorb shock, ensuring a constant operating force for opening and closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a torsion spring cushioning member is used in the related art, then the upper cover can be prevented from rapid closure under normal conditions, but the cushioning effect becomes insufficient when the weight of supplies (e.g., ink ribbon) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical torsion spring with a pneumatic cushioning member comprising a chamber, piston, and elastic member. The elastic member (spring) is positioned within the chamber to interact with the piston, creating a pneumatic-hydraulic cushioning system that adapts to varying loads. This system provides consistent cushioning force regardless of the weight of supplies in the upper cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cushioning mechanism from a fixed mechanical torsion spring to a variable pneumatic system where the elastic member's compression and expansion can dynamically adjust to different weight conditions. The chamber volume and piston position allow the system to adapt its cushioning parameters based on the actual load, maintaining reliability across varying supply weights.
2Quantity of substance
If the size of the housing increases to accommodate more supplies, then the capacity increases, but the load supporting the upper cover increases, resulting in insufficient cushioning effect
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic cushioning system with chamber and piston provides scalable cushioning capability that can handle increased loads from larger housing capacity. The elastic member within the chamber generates sufficient counterbalancing force even when the upper cover carries heavy supplies, maintaining cushioning effectiveness regardless of housing size or supply quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member in the chamber acts as a counterweight mechanism, generating upward force to balance the weight of the upper cover and its contents. This counterbalancing effect increases with the load, providing proportional support that maintains operational reliability even when the housing is enlarged to accommodate more supplies.
3Device complexity
If a torsion spring is used as cushioning member, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide constant operating force when load varies
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic cushioning system with chamber, piston, and elastic member provides more consistent operating force across varying loads compared to a simple torsion spring. While the structure is more complex, it delivers reliable and uniform cushioning effect regardless of the weight of supplies, improving ease of operation under different loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning system transitions from a static mechanical torsion spring to a dynamic pneumatic system where the piston and elastic member can adjust in real-time to varying loads. This dynamic adaptation ensures constant operating force characteristics even when the weight of supplies changes, maintaining ease of operation across different usage scenarios.
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 effective support for the upper cover even with increased load, preventing rapid closure and allowing easy operation without requiring excessive force, maintaining the upper cover in an open state.
Implementation Method 1
a cushioning member including a chamber, a piston that can reciprocate in the chamber, and an elastic member (for example, a spring) that expands and contracts in the chamber
Implementation Method 2
a piston that can reciprocate in the chamber along a longitudinal direction of the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printer apparatus including a cushioning member coping with a weight increase of an upper cover. The printer apparatus includes a lower housing, the upper cover, and the cushioning member. The lower housing has an opening on one surface. The upper cover is rotatably connected to the lower housing and covers the opening. The cushioning member includes a cylinder that is fixed to the lower housing and has a cylindrical shape with different inner diameters in a longitudinal direction, a piston that can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction in the cylinder, and a piston rod that moves the piston along an inner wall of the cylinder and is fixed to the upper cover.