Printer Paper Linkage Mechanism for Compact Paper Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers, including those in medical devices, have small openings that make it difficult to remove paper, and flexible spacers used for paper removal are fragile and prone to causing paper jams.
Innovation Solution
A linkage apparatus with a paper compartment assembly, door assembly, and transmission mechanism that uses a gear set and propeller shaft to drive a paper advancing member, allowing paper to be easily advanced by opening the door, eliminating the need to insert hands into small openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the opening area of the printer door is reduced to make the printer more compact, then the volume of the printer decreases, but the ease of removing paper deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A paper advancing member with an advancing plate is introduced as an intermediary tool. When the door is opened, the transmission mechanism drives the paper advancing member to push the paper outward through the side opening, allowing paper removal without needing to reach into the compact printer interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the door opening action itself to trigger the paper advancement. The transmission mechanism converts the door's opening movement into automatic paper pushing, making the paper removal process self-service rather than requiring manual intervention inside the printer.
2Ease of operation
If flexible spacers are used to push paper out, then paper can be removed from compact printers, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to fragile components
Solution Approach 1:
The paper advancing member is integrated into the printer's existing structure and is automatically actuated by the door opening action. This eliminates the need for separate fragile pushing components like flexible spacers, as the system uses its own structural movement to perform the paper advancement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The paper advancement function is extracted from the door assembly itself and implemented through a dedicated transmission mechanism and paper advancing member. This separates the paper pushing function from any fragile auxiliary components, using instead a robust mechanical linkage driven by the door's natural movement.
3Volume of moving object
If the opening area is small, then the printer is more compact, but the ease of inserting paper deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The paper advancing member acts as an intermediary that facilitates paper insertion. The advancing plate provides a surface for paper placement and the transmission mechanism automatically positions the paper correctly within the compact paper tray, making insertion easier despite the small opening.
4Strength
If sharp metal or plastic members are provided at the opening, then the structural strength is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to finger scratching risks
Solution Approach 1:
The paper advancing member with its advancing plate serves as an intermediary between the user and the sharp internal components. Users interact with the advancing plate to remove paper, never needing to reach past it into areas with sharp metal or plastic members, thus eliminating the scratching hazard while maintaining structural integrity.
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
Facilitates easy paper removal and insertion without risking finger scratches from sharp components, improving usability and reducing paper jams.
Implementation Method 1
a gear transmission part, disposed in the base and provided with a gear set, a propeller shaft, and a rack linked to the gear set by means of the propeller shaft, wherein at least one gear in the gear set is connected to the door assembly, and, along with opening and closing movements of the door assembly, the gear set drives the propeller shaft to rotate
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present application provide a linkage apparatus for a printer, a printer, and a medical apparatus. The linkage apparatus comprises: a paper compartment assembly, provided with a side opening, a base, a paper tray located in the base, and a paper advancing member disposed opposite the side opening, an end of the paper advancing member opposite the side opening being provided with an advancing plate extending upward; a door assembly, movably connected to the paper compartment assembly and capable of closing or opening the side opening; and a transmission mechanism, one side of which is connected to the door assembly, the transmission mechanism driving the paper advancing member to move toward the side opening along with opening of the door assembly, causing the paper advancing member to, by means of the advancing plate, advance paper in the paper tray to move toward the door assembly. Thus, usability of the printer can be improved.