Printer Head Lock Mechanism for Vibration-Resistant Nozzle Capping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers designed for printing manicure colors on fingernails face issues with nozzle cap removal due to unexpected movement of the head during transportation, leading to clogging from drying.
Innovation Solution
A lock mechanism utilizing a self-locking worm gear and interlocking mechanism ensures the nozzle cap remains in place, preventing unexpected movement and capping the nozzle face, while reducing the number of printer parts by using the driving mechanism as the lock mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the printer is carried to various places for use, then the printer's versatility and ease of operation are improved, but vibration during transportation may cause the head to move unexpectedly with respect to the nozzle cap, leading to nozzle cap removal
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is designed to preemptively counteract the harmful effect of vibration-induced movement. By providing a locking structure that engages between the head and nozzle cap, the system creates a preliminary anti-action force that prevents the nozzle cap from being removed during transportation vibrations, thus maintaining reliability while preserving portability
2Reliability
If a separate lock mechanism is added to prevent head movement, then nozzle cap retention is improved, but the number of parts increases and device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is merged with the existing driving mechanism by utilizing the engagement between the head and nozzle cap as the locking structure. This integration allows the same mechanical components to serve dual functions: driving the head for printing operations and locking the nozzle cap in place, thereby improving reliability without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement structure between the head and nozzle cap is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. It serves as both the driving interface for moving the head during printing and the locking mechanism for preventing nozzle cap removal during transportation, thus achieving multi-functionality that reduces the need for separate dedicated lock components
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 effectively prevents nozzle cap removal during vibration, ensuring the nozzle face remains capped and reducing printer complexity, thus maintaining print functionality and compact design.
Implementation Method 1
the lock mechanism may be configured to regulate movement of the head in the first direction by utilizing a self-locking characteristic of the worm gear
Implementation Method 2
an urging member which applies an elastic force to move the nozzle cap from the first position toward the second position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A printer (2) includes a head (20) having a nozzle face (32) which ejects ink toward an object, a driving mechanism (22) which moves the head (20) in a first direction and a second direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction, a nozzle cap (36) movable between a first position where the nozzle face (32) is capped and a second position where the nozzle face (32) is uncapped, and a lock mechanism (28) which regulates movement of the head (20) in the first direction and the second direction in the state where the nozzle cap (36) is in the first position.