Printer Carriage Noise Feedback for Stable Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid ejection devices, such as inkjet printers, generate louder noises due to vibrations caused by unstable installations, leading to wobbling and increased noise levels.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus equipped with a sound sensor to collect ambient and operating sounds, a controller to analyze sound volumes, and an output device to guide the user on stable installation or adjust operation modes to reduce noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the carriage moves during printing, then printing function is achieved, but vibration and noise are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting functionVSAvoidvibration and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sound sensor detects noise generated during carriage movement, and the controller adjusts carriage movement parameters based on this feedback to reduce noise while maintaining printing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes carriage movement parameters (speed, acceleration, deceleration) to optimize the balance between printing efficiency and noise reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the liquid ejection device is installed on an unstable place, then installation flexibility is improved, but noise is amplified due to wobbling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sound sensor provides feedback on noise levels that result from installation surface wobbling, allowing the system to detect and compensate for unstable installation conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively measures noise during carriage movement to predict and prevent excessive noise amplification before it occurs during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Measurement precision

If the sound sensor collects ambient sound, then environmental noise is detected, but operating noise cannot be distinguished

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient noise detectionVSAvoidoperating noise differentiation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The sound sensor collects ambient sound before carriage movement as a baseline, enabling the system to later distinguish operating noise by comparing it against the pre-recorded ambient noise profile

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically collects sound data at different operational states (ambient vs. operating) to build a comprehensive noise profile that enables differentiation between ambient and operating noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic 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

Suppresses excessive noise generation by stabilizing the installation or adjusting operation parameters, ensuring quieter operation.

Implementation Method 1

a sound sensor configured to collect first sound and output a sound signal corresponding to the first sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS12611880B2Printing apparatus, method of controlling printing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing apparatus includes a head, a carriage, a casing, a sound sensor configured to collect first sound, an output device and a controller. The controller performs causing the carriage to move and causing the sound sensor to collect second sound that is generated when the carriage is being moved, and causing the output device to output guide information related to an installation place of the casing based on a volume value corresponding to the second sound.