Printer Functional Unit Module Assembly for Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in achieving compactness in printer design while maintaining good workability and positional accuracy of components, which is compromised due to the assembly of numerous small components and the difficulty in achieving precise alignment in small-sized components.
Innovation Solution
The printer's functional components, such as the opening and closing cover, feeding roller, and print head, are attached to a frame, enhancing workability and positional accuracy by constructing a functional unit as a module independent from the housing, allowing for better assembly and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the printer is designed to be compact in size by assembling a large number of small components, then the mobility and portability of the printer are improved, but the workability in assembling the components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The printer is divided into a housing and a functional unit that can be assembled and disassembled as a module. The functional unit includes the platen roller, thermal head, and other components mounted on a frame. This segmentation allows the functional unit to be pre-assembled with fewer components, improving assembly workability while maintaining compact overall printer size.
2Volume of moving object
If the constituent components are produced in small sizes to achieve compactness, then the printer size is reduced, but the positional accuracy among components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A frame is introduced as an intermediary structure to mount the platen roller, thermal head, and other functional components. This frame serves as a reference structure that ensures good positional accuracy among components during assembly, eliminating the need for high precision in each small component itself while maintaining compact printer size.
3Device complexity
If functional components are attached to the housing directly, then the structure is simplified, but the workability in assembling and the positional accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The printer is segmented into a housing and a functional unit. The functional unit is pre-assembled with components mounted on a frame, and then this complete module is attached to the housing. This segmentation improves assembly workability by reducing the number of attachment steps from multiple individual component attachments to a single module attachment.
4Device complexity
If functional components are attached to the housing directly, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the positional accuracy among components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A frame is introduced as an intermediary structure between the housing and functional components (platen roller, thermal head, etc.). This frame serves as a reference structure that ensures good positional accuracy among components, while the overall structure remains relatively simple as the frame is integrated into the functional unit module.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The printer in the exemplary embodiment includes a functional unit Y. The functional unit Y includes: an opening and closing cover 3; a platen roller 10; a thermal head 28, a control board unit 40 and a battery container 33. The functional unit Y is accommodated in a body case. A front cover 5 is fixed to a body case 2. The front cover 5 enables the opening and closing cover 3 to be opened and closed, and protects the functional unit Y.