Printer Paper Roll Support Shaft with Elastic Depressing Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printers that output paper slips, such as receipts, face issues with the swinging of rolled recording paper during feeding, leading to inaccurate paper remaining detection and hindered paper feeding, due to the paper roll support shaft being smaller than the core diameter, causing instability and potential paper jamming.

Innovation Solution

A printer design featuring a paper roll support shaft with a first and second support shaft, a support shaft part, a depressing member, and a spring, which contacts the core at three points to prevent rotation and ensure stable paper feeding, along with a flange part to prevent paper displacement, ensuring accurate paper remaining detection and smooth feeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the paper roll support shaft diameter is made smaller than the core diameter to fit the paper roll, then the paper roll can be mounted on the support shaft, but the recording paper swings greatly during feeding causing inaccurate detection and potential jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaper roll mountingVSAvoidrecording paper stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support shaft is divided into multiple segments: a main support shaft and multiple support shafts arranged radially around it. This segmentation allows the system to provide both mounting capability and stability, as the multiple support shafts work together to constrain the paper roll while maintaining ease of installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support shafts act as intermediaries between the paper roll core and the printer mechanism. By positioning these support shafts at specific locations (including radially outward positions), they mediate the interaction between the paper roll and the feeding mechanism, preventing direct contact that would cause swinging while still allowing proper mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the paper roll support shaft diameter is made smaller than the core diameter, then the paper roll can be loaded, but the paper feeding position becomes undetermined and feeding may be hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaper roll compatibilityVSAvoidpaper remaining detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support shaft system is segmented into multiple components positioned at different radial locations. This segmentation enables the system to accommodate various paper roll sizes (adaptability) while the specific radial positioning of support shafts provides reference points that stabilize the paper feed path (measurement precision)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support shafts are positioned not only along the axial direction but also arranged radially outward from the main support shaft. This dimensional arrangement creates a stable geometric structure that determines the paper feed position in multiple spatial dimensions, improving both compatibility and detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If a single support shaft is used to hold the paper roll, then the structure is simple, but the paper roll swings during feeding causing paper jams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport shaft structureVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single support shaft is segmented into multiple support shafts (main support shaft plus radially arranged support shafts). This segmentation increases reliability by distributing the load and providing multiple contact points to prevent swinging, while the modular nature of the segmentation keeps the overall structure relatively simple and maintainable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces paper swinging, allows for accurate detection of remaining paper, and ensures stable feeding, preventing paper jams and ensuring continuous operation.

Implementation Method 1

a spring that presses the interior of the core against the paper roll support shaft part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3284606B1printer
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 FCL COMPONENTS LTD
  • EP3284606B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3284606B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3284606B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A printer includes an arm part connected to a printer body part and a paper roll support shaft part (420) having a first end connected to the arm part and a second end to be inserted into a hollow core (101) of a paper roll. The paper roll support shaft part includes a support shaft (421) configured to come into contact with the interior of the core at a first contact point (421a). The paper roll support shaft part includes additionally a depressing member (424), which is provided on the support shaft so as to be movable around the support shaft. A coil spring (425) urges the depressing member so as to press the depressing member toward the inner surface of the core at a contact part (424a).