Handheld Printer Head Temperature Control via Motion Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional handheld printers face safety issues due to the risk of users touching the hot head before it has cooled down, which can lead to injuries, especially when heating the head for printing purposes.

Innovation Solution

A handheld inkjet printing liquid discharge apparatus equipped with a navigation sensor and a gyro sensor to control the temperature of the inkjet recording head, using a preheater and heater control system that ensures the head is at a safe temperature for printing while minimizing the risk of user contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the head is heated to an appropriate temperature range before printing, then print quality is improved, but the risk of user injury from touching the hot head increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint qualityVSAvoiduser injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating of the head to a safe temperature range (40-60°C) before printing begins. This preliminary action ensures that the head reaches the appropriate temperature for quality printing while maintaining safety standards, resolving the contradiction between print quality and user safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the head temperature and adjusts heating control based on feedback from temperature sensors. This feedback mechanism ensures the head maintains the optimal temperature range for printing while preventing excessive heating that could cause user injury, thus resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the head temperature is monitored and controlled, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidtemperature control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates automatic temperature monitoring and control that operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention. The controller automatically adjusts heating based on sensor feedback, maintaining safety while minimizing the complexity of user interaction with the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If heating control is implemented before printing, then print quality is ensured, but the time required before printing can begin increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint qualityVSAvoidheating time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial heating to reach the minimum necessary temperature range (40-60°C) required for quality printing, rather than excessive heating. This optimized heating approach ensures print quality while minimizing the time required before printing can begin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 system effectively maintains the inkjet recording head at a safe temperature for printing, improving safety by preventing user contact with the hot head and ensuring better print quality by maintaining the head within a recommended temperature range.

Implementation Method 1

it is desirable to heat a head portion to an appropriate temperature range of, for example, 40 to 60 degrees centigrade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a head portion to an appropriate temperature range... in order to ensure print quality

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3539789B1Liquid discharge apparatus in a handheld printer, liquid discharge method, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3539789B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3539789B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3539789B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid discharge apparatus (10) includes a head (19) to discharge liquid to print an image according to image data on a recording medium while the apparatus is moved, a sensor (20; 30) to detect movement of the apparatus in a predetermined period and output movement information of the apparatus in at least one of a movement amount and an angular velocity, a heater (203H) to heat the head (19), and a temperature sensor (202) to detect a temperature of the head (19). The apparatus further includes a discharge control unit (105,111) to instruct liquid discharge from the head (19) based on the image data and the movement information from the sensor (20; 30), a float detecting unit (14) to detect floating of the liquid discharge apparatus (10) based on a detection result generated by the sensor (20; 30); and a heater control unit (204) to control heating of the head (19) based on a detection result generated by the float detecting unit (14).