Printer Power Transmission Mechanism Below Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges with the 'kicking phenomenon' during paper transport, especially with thick papers, and there is a need to reduce both the width and height dimensions of the printer while maintaining carriage volume and ink cartridge capacity, as existing solutions struggle to balance these requirements effectively.
Innovation Solution
The power transmission mechanism is integrated below the carriage, allowing for a projecting part to ensure carriage volume without increasing width or height, and a rotary scale with a smaller diameter is positioned to detect rotation without increasing the printer's dimensions, with a convex frame shielding the scale from external pressure and ink mist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gap between drive roller and driven roller is reduced to suppress kicking phenomenon, then kicking phenomenon is suppressed, but adequate pinching force cannot be obtained when paper thickness is thin
Solution Approach 1:
The driven roller is made elastically deformable through resin molding, allowing the gap between rollers to dynamically adjust based on paper thickness. This enables the system to maintain adequate pinching force for thin papers while suppressing kicking phenomenon for thick papers, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Volume of moving object
If the carriage volume is increased to accommodate larger ink cartridge, then ink cartridge capacity is improved, but the width dimension of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink cartridge is positioned to extend in the paper transport direction (depth dimension) rather than increasing the carriage width. This dimensional reorientation allows larger ink capacity while maintaining a compact width dimension, resolving the contradiction between carriage volume and apparatus width.
3Length of moving object
If the height dimension of the apparatus is reduced, then compactness is improved, but the carriage volume becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The ink cartridge capacity is increased by extending in the paper transport direction (depth) rather than increasing height. This allows the apparatus height to be reduced for compactness while maintaining adequate carriage volume through the depth extension.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the power transmission mechanism is arranged outside the carriage movement region, then structural stability is improved, but the width dimension of the printer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission mechanism is positioned below the carriage movement region in the vertical dimension rather than outside in the horizontal dimension. This spatial reorganization maintains structural stability while preventing an increase in the printer's width dimension.
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
This configuration limits the width and height of the printer, prevents the kicking phenomenon, and ensures reliable paper transport while maintaining the carriage's volume and ink capacity, enhancing the printer's compactness and recording accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary scale 45 which constitutes a rotation detection unit and detects a rotation of the transport roller 16
Implementation Method 2
The drive roller is produced by forming a high friction layer on the outer peripheral surface of a solid metal shaft or a hollow metal shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a carriage, a support unit, and a power transmission mechanism. The carriage includes a recording head configured to record onto a medium, and the carriage is configured to move in a first direction and a second direction that is an opposite direction thereto. The support unit supports the carriage. The power transmission mechanism is configured to transmit power of a drive source to a transport unit configured to transport the medium. At least a portion of the power transmission mechanism is positioned below the carriage when moved to an end part in the second direction.