Compact Duplex Printer Reversing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers that perform duplex printing on substrates from rolls lack an efficient mechanism to handle pre-cut sheet-like substrates, making it difficult to create a compact and cost-effective simplex/duplex printer capable of reversing sheet-like substrates for duplex printing.
Innovation Solution
A simplex and duplex printer design that incorporates a rotatable housing shell with a cylindrical inner peripheral surface and a drive mechanism to reverse sheet-like substrates, along with a guide transport path and feed rollers, allowing for easy reversal and duplex printing on sheet-like substrates, while utilizing existing components to maintain cost-effectiveness and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a roll of substrate is used for duplex printing, then the printing mechanism can be established, but the printer cannot handle pre-cut sheet-like substrates efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The printer is designed with a universal substrate supply system that can accept both rolled substrates and pre-cut sheet-like substrates through the same guide transport path and reversing mechanism, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms for different substrate types
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a reversing mechanism that flips the sheet-like substrate 180 degrees between printing passes, enabling duplex printing on pre-cut sheets by inverting their orientation, which is the key innovation that adapts roll-based duplex printing to sheet-based operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If a reversing mechanism is added to existing simplex printer, then duplex printing capability is achieved, but the printer size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reversing mechanism is integrated within the existing printer housing and substrate path structure, with the rotatable housing shell and feed rollers arranged to fit within the compact space of the original simplex printer, avoiding significant size increase
Solution Approach 2:
The reversing mechanism uses a vertical rotation axis for the housing shell, utilizing the vertical dimension of the printer space rather than requiring additional horizontal space, thereby maintaining a compact footprint
3Adaptability or versatility
If a reversing mechanism with rotatable housing shell is incorporated, then sheet-like substrate reversal is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reversing mechanism uses simple, inexpensive components such as a rotatable housing shell, feed rollers, and a drive mechanism that can be manufactured at low cost, avoiding the need for expensive precision mechanisms while achieving reliable sheet reversal
Solution Approach 2:
The reversing mechanism shares common components with the existing simplex printer, such as the drive motor, housing structure, and transport path, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs through component consolidation
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a compact simplex and duplex printer which can be produced easily at a low cost. The simplex and duplex printer 10 includes: a thermal head 12 for performing printing on a substrate 1, 41; a rolled substrate supply section 42 for supplying a continuous substrate 41, which is to be printed on one side, to the thermal head 12; and a sheet-like substrate supply section 25, provided below the rolled substrate supply section 42, for sequentially supplying sheet-like substrates 1, which are to be printed on both sides, to the thermal head 12. A guide transport path 24 for guiding a sheet-like substrate 1 from the sheet-like substrate supply section 25 to the thermal head 12 is provided between the thermal head 12 and the sheet-like substrate supply section 25. To the guide transport path 24 is connected a reversing mechanism 20 for reversing the sheet-like substrate 1 which has been returned from the thermal head 12 to the guide transport path 24. The reversing mechanism 20 includes a rotatable housing shell 21.