Printer Roll Support with Adjustable Adjusters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printers face difficulties in securely supporting rolls and easily switching between rolls with different inner diameters, leading to challenges in printing on various media types.

Innovation Solution

The printer employs a housing with adjustable first and second adjusters, and corresponding support members with protruding parts of different diameters, allowing secure attachment and detachment to support rolls with varying inner diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the movable support member is moved in a direction away from the stationary support member, then the support member can be detached from the iron core, but the roll cannot be securely supported at a position between the movable support member and the stationary support member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetachability of support memberVSAvoidsecure support of roll

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is designed to be movable relative to the iron core in the axial direction, allowing it to be positioned at different locations along the iron core. This dynamic positioning capability enables the support member to be detached when needed while still maintaining secure support when positioned between the movable and stationary support members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the stationary support member is pulled off the iron core to exchange attachment portions, then the attachment portions can be repositioned, but the operation becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexchange of attachment portionsVSAvoidoperation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into two separate components: the support member itself and the attachment portion. The attachment portion can be independently attached to or detached from the iron core, allowing users to exchange attachment portions without removing the entire support member. This segmentation simplifies the operation of adapting to different roll inner diameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single support member design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate rolls with different inner diameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport member structureVSAvoidcompatibility with different roll sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is designed with dual functionality to accommodate rolls with different inner diameters. It includes a first attachment portion with a first outer diameter and a second attachment portion with a second outer diameter greater than the first. The support member can be configured to fit either the first sleeve or the second sleeve, making it universally applicable to different roll sizes without requiring completely different support members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250108641A1Printer including first and second support members respectively attachable to first and second adjusters provided in housing for supporting two different types of rolls of printing medium

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printer includes a housing, first and second adjusters provided in the housing, and first and second support members detachably attachable to the respective first and second adjusters. The first and second adjusters face each other in a second direction such that a distance therebetween is adjustable. Each support member includes: a plate part having a first surface and a second surface opposite each other; a first protruding part protruding from the first surface; and a second protruding part protruding from the second surface. Each adjuster has a hook extending toward each other in the second direction. When the respective first surfaces oppose each other in the second direction, each first protruding part is fitted in a first sleeve of a first roll. When the respective second surfaces oppose each other in the second direction, each second protruding part is fitted in a second sleeve of a second roll.