Miniaturized Printer Rack and Pinion Paper Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer devices face challenges in miniaturization due to the need for operation parts to be positioned away from the sliding parts of paper guides, which affects smooth movement and requires widening the printer, hindering portability and compact design.
Innovation Solution
A printer device with a recessed accommodation part, pair of rack gears arranged in a staircase-like shape, and a pinion gear that supports paper guides, allowing for smooth operation and miniaturization by positioning the operation part near the sliding part without interfering with the roll paper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operation part is arranged away from the sliding part of the paper guides, then the roll paper is not interfered with during operation, but the paper guides do not move smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The operation part is positioned in the width direction (lateral dimension) rather than the length direction (paper feed dimension). This dimensional shift allows the operation part to be accessible from the side while maintaining adequate distance from the sliding portion, enabling smooth paper guide movement without interfering with the roll paper during operation.
2Ease of operation
If the operation part is arranged close to the sliding part to enable smooth movement, then the paper guides move smoothly, but the printer width must be widened to secure user finger access
Solution Approach 1:
The operation part is repositioned from the longitudinal dimension to the lateral dimension (width direction). This allows users to access and operate the paper guides from the side of the printer without requiring additional width, thereby maintaining compact dimensions while ensuring smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation part is specifically positioned at a location where it can be easily accessed by the user's finger in the width direction, while other parts of the printer maintain their compact design. This localized optimization enables smooth operation without requiring overall printer enlargement.
3Length of moving object
If the printer is miniaturized to improve portability, then the printer size is reduced, but it becomes difficult to arrange the operation part without interfering with the roll paper
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the operation part to the width direction, the design enables miniaturization in the longitudinal dimension (paper feed direction) while maintaining operational accessibility. The lateral positioning allows the operation part to fit within the compact printer body without interfering with the roll paper, achieving both miniaturization and ease of operation.
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
Enables the miniaturization of the printer device, allowing for easier portability and improved operability by facilitating smooth movement of paper guides without the need for additional space for user access, while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of rack gears (31, 39) arranged in a staircase-like shape and having tooth rows (31a, 39a) arranged in a first direction (X-axis direction) orthogonal to a paper conveyance direction so as to face each other, and a pinion gear (33) arranged between the pair of rack gears (31, 39) and fitting to the tooth rows (31a, 39a) of the pair of rack gears (31, 39)
Data Source
AI summary
A printer device includes: a recessed accommodation part accommodating a roll-shaped continuous paper; a pair of rack gears arranged in a staircase-like shape on a paper conveyance direction side of the continuous paper, and having tooth rows arranged in a first direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction so as to face each other; a pinion gear arranged between the pair of rack gears and fitting into the tooth rows of the pair of rack gears, and a pair of paper guides respectively provided at one end portion of an upper rack gear in the first direction and anther end portion of a lower rack gear in the first direction, and supporting side surfaces of the continuous paper accommodated in the accommodation part. The pair of paper guides perform an opening or closing movement in the first direction by the pair of rack gears and the pinion gear.