Printer Printhead Angulator Assembly for Media Thickness Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers face challenges in maintaining accurate registration between the print head and printer media due to variations in media thickness, often resulting in interference and reduced printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A printer assembly with a pivot member that allows the print head assembly to pivot relative to the platen assembly, supported directly by the platen, to adjust for media variations, using a pair of pivot members and angulation arm to ensure accurate tracking and clearance for media passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a V-shaped pressure spring is used to maintain contact between the print head and media, then the print head can follow media variations, but the spring interferes with media passage and reduces printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the V-shaped pressure spring from the system entirely. Instead, it uses a pivot member supported by the platen assembly that allows the print head to rotate freely without requiring a spring to maintain contact. This extraction of the harmful spring element eliminates media passage interference while preserving the ability to track media variations through the pivot mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot member acts as an intermediary between the print head and the platen assembly. It provides a rotationally supported connection that allows the print head to angle and follow media thickness variations without requiring the V-shaped spring. The pivot member mediates the mechanical interaction, enabling smooth media passage while maintaining tracking capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the print head assembly is fixed relative to the platen, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adjust to variations in media thickness resulting in poor registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed print head assembly into a dynamic structure by introducing a pivot member that allows the print head to rotate relative to the platen assembly. This dynamic connection enables the print head to adapt to varying media thicknesses by rotating to the appropriate angle, providing adaptability without requiring a complex adjustable mechanism.
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 solution reduces positioning errors and improves printing quality by allowing the print head to adjust to varying media thicknesses while maintaining accurate registration, enhancing the overall printing capability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pivot member is coupled to the print head assembly and pivotally supported relative to the print assembly. In this manner, the print line pivots about the pivot member in the media direction as the media travels between the print head assembly and the platen
Implementation Method 2
a biasing device configured to bias the print head assembly against the media
Data Source
AI summary
A printer assembly for printing on a supply of media traveling in a media direction. The printer generally includes a platen assembly, a print head assembly and a pivot member. The pivot member provides for pivoting of the print head assembly relative to the platen assembly to adjust for variations in the media as it passes therebetween. Advantageously, the pivot member may be supported directly by the platen assembly, such as by bearing supports of the platen assembly, to reduce positioning error from intervening components. Preferably, the pivot member is positioned upstream of the print head assembly. Also, a pair of pivot members may each be supported at the ends of an angulation arm which is coupled to the print head assembly for angulation in the media direction but is uncoupled in the cross-media direction.