Printer Force Transmitting Path Selecting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers face inefficiencies in switching between operation modes due to the need to move the carriage to change gear positions, leading to wasted time and reduced continuous printing capabilities, especially when dealing with multiple cassettes and sheet sending mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A printer design featuring a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism that allows the carriage to switch power paths while moving, with a position retainer ensuring the selected path is maintained even when the carriage is moved away, enabling efficient operation across multiple cassettes and modes without frequent repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the carriage is moved to change gear positions for switching operation modes, then the printer can switch between different operation modes and sheet sending mechanisms, but the printing efficiency is reduced due to the time spent on carriage movement and gear changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the idle gear at a fixed location and pre-arranging the force transmitting paths so that the selecting member can engage with different gears without requiring carriage movement. The position retainer further maintains the selected gear engagement state, eliminating the need for repeated carriage movements during mode switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the force transmitting path into multiple independent paths, each leading to different gears (intermittent feeding gear, continuous feeding gear, maintenance gear). The selecting member can independently engage with any of these segmented paths without affecting the carriage position or other parts of the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the carriage must be repositioned to switch between force transmitting paths, then complete mode switching is possible, but continuous printing operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuity of useful action by allowing the selecting member to switch between force transmitting paths independently of the carriage position. The position retainer maintains the selected path engagement continuously, allowing the printer to switch between intermittent feeding, continuous feeding, and maintenance modes without interrupting the overall printing operation or requiring carriage repositioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gears are positioned at different locations along the carriage path, then different operation modes can be supported, but the complexity of the gear switching mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an idle gear as an intermediary element that mediates between the selecting member and the various operation gears (intermittent feeding gear, continuous feeding gear, maintenance gear). The idle gear rotates to engage with different gears while the selecting member remains in a fixed position, simplifying the switching mechanism compared to having the selecting member physically move between widely spaced gears.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end. The force receiving member connected to the force outputting member via the selecting member is selected in accordance with a movement of the carriage along the reciprocating path.