Handheld Printer Detection Unit Swingable Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handheld printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining printing quality when lifted or tilted, as detection of the print head's position is disrupted, making it difficult to resume printing without misalignment and quality deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A handheld printing apparatus with a holding unit, a printing unit, and a detection unit that includes a shaft to support the detection unit swingably orthogonal to the printing surface, allowing for accurate detection of the relative moving amount between the apparatus and the print medium, even when lifted or tilted, using downstream and upstream position detection sensors to maintain printing alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the printing apparatus is lifted or tilted during operation, then the operator can adjust the printing position or navigate obstacles, but the detection unit cannot accurately detect the relative moving amount, causing printing quality deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting position adjustmentVSAvoidprinting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection unit is made swingable about a shaft to dynamically adapt its detection direction. When the printing apparatus is lifted or tilted, the detection unit swings to maintain alignment with the printing surface, ensuring continuous accurate detection of the relative moving amount between the print head and print medium throughout the printing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The swingable detection unit proactively compensates for lift or tilt movements by preemptively adjusting its detection direction. This preliminary adaptation prevents detection interruptions before they can occur, maintaining printing quality even when the apparatus is lifted or tilted during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Manufacturing precision

If the ejection control is stopped to prevent printing errors during lift or tilt, then printing quality is maintained, but the printing operation is interrupted and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidprinting operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The swingable detection unit enables continuous printing by dynamically adapting to lift or tilt movements. Instead of stopping ejection control, the detection unit swings to maintain accurate detection, allowing the printing operation to continue uninterrupted while preserving printing quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection unit maintains continuous detection capability during lift or tilt operations through its swingable mechanism. This ensures the printing operation can proceed without interruption, keeping both the print head and print medium position tracking active throughout the entire printing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If the detection unit is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the detection accuracy decreases when the printing apparatus is lifted or tilted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection unit structureVSAvoidrelative moving amount detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection unit is configured to swing about a shaft with its detection direction substantially orthogonal to the printing surface. This dynamic capability allows the detection unit to maintain accurate detection of the relative moving amount between the print head and print medium even when the printing apparatus is lifted or tilted during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11840061B2Handheld printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 CANON KK

AI summary

Provided is a manually moved printing apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration in printing quality even if the printing apparatus is lifted or tilted. To provide this, a Y-direction sensor support shaft formed integrally with a downstream position detection sensor case and having a rotation axis in the direction of arrows is rotatably supported by a downstream sensor case support arm.