Printer Hopper Guide Surface Reduces Detachment Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printers have complex structures for moving the lift plate, making it difficult to detach the cassette with a reduced load.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a hopper that pivots on a fulcrum, using a guide surface with a downward angle to reduce the load required for detachment, allowing the hopper to be moved downward against an urging force, smoothing the detachment process by varying the force required based on the urging member's compressing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a position control unit and drive motor are used to move the lift plate, then the lift plate position can be controlled, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex position control unit and drive motor from the system, replacing them with a simple mechanical guide surface structure. The guide surface passively guides the hopper's movement trajectory, eliminating the need for active control components while maintaining reliable position control during cassette detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface structure enables the hopper to automatically follow the desired movement path through its geometric design alone. The angled guide surface self-regulates the hopper's descent, using the detachment motion itself to control the hopper position without requiring external control systems.
2Reliability
If the hopper is pressed by a pressing member against the pickup roller, then the medium can be fed properly, but a larger force is required to detach the medium container
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is designed with a varying angle that changes during the detachment process. Initially, the guide surface has a larger angle that provides greater downward pressure on the hopper to maintain reliable medium feeding. As detachment progresses, the angle decreases, gradually reducing the downward force and thereby reducing the total force required to complete the detachment motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameter of the guide surface angle is changed progressively during detachment. The angle transitions from a larger value (providing stronger pressing force for reliable feeding) to a smaller value (requiring less force for detachment), allowing the system to maintain feeding reliability while reducing the overall detachment force requirement.
3Speed
If the guide surface makes a large downward angle, then the hopper moves down quickly, but the force required to detach increases suddenly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface angle is designed to vary dynamically during the detachment process rather than remaining constant. The angle starts larger to enable quick hopper descent for efficient detachment, then progressively decreases to smooth out the force requirement, preventing sudden force increases while maintaining overall detachment speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachment process is divided into stages with different guide surface angles. The first stage uses a larger angle for rapid hopper descent, while subsequent stages use progressively smaller angles to reduce force requirements. This periodic variation in the guide geometry allows the system to achieve both speed and force management.
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
Enables quick and efficient detachment of the medium container with reduced force requirements, maintaining a simple structure and preventing sudden increases in detachment force, allowing for a shorter detachment stroke.
Implementation Method 1
a guide surface with which a part of the hopper comes into contact, the guide surface being configured to press down the hopper against the pressure by the pressing member
Implementation Method 2
the guide surface being configured to press down the hopper against the pressure by the pressing member
Implementation Method 3
an urging member (pressing member) made of a spring, a rubber or the like has a larger urging force (reaction force) as the compression amount increases
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus that enables a medium container to be detached by moving a hopper with a reduced load with a simple structure is provided.