Printer Sensor Recessed Frame for Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printers face challenges in ease of assembly, particularly with transmissive sensors that risk damage during assembly due to contact with the mechanism frame, necessitating disassembly of support shafts.

Innovation Solution

A printer design featuring a mechanism frame with a recessed portion to increase distance between the head and support shaft, allowing the transmissive sensor to pass through safely, and a snap-fit sensor holder for secure fixation, enhancing assembly ease without disassembling the support shaft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the transmissive sensor is arranged between the head and support shaft to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but the sensor surface may contact the mechanism frame causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsensor surface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A recessed portion is introduced as an intermediary structural feature in the mechanism frame. This recessed portion positions the transmissive sensor at a safe distance from the support shaft, preventing direct contact between the sensor surface and the support shaft while maintaining the sensor's functional positioning between the head and support shaft for accurate label detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the support shaft is disassembled from the mechanism frame to allow sensor passage, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion is pre-formed in the mechanism frame structure. This preliminary structural preparation allows the transmissive sensor to be installed directly into the recessed portion without requiring disassembly of the support shaft, thereby simplifying the assembly process and reducing assembly time while ensuring proper sensor positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the distance between head and support shaft is increased to prevent sensor contact, then reliability is improved, but device volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor protectionVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion creates a localized increase in distance between the head and support shaft only in the specific region where the transmissive sensor is positioned. This local structural modification provides adequate clearance for sensor protection without increasing the overall device volume, as the distance increase is confined to a small localized area rather than the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design improves assembly efficiency by preventing sensor damage and allowing for secure fixation without disassembling the support shaft, ensuring accurate sensor placement and enhanced printer assembly processes.

Implementation Method 1

light is radiated from the light emitting element of the transmissive sensor to the light receiving element, and the radiated light is transmitted through the recording sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

a snap-fit portion that is elastically deformable and is locked to the mechanism frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4091821B1Printer and method for its' manufacture
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 SEIKO INSTR INC
  • EP4091821B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4091821B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4091821B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A printer (1) includes: a mechanism frame (2) configured to receive a recording medium (P) including a liner (31) having a large length, and a plurality of labels (32) temporarily bonded on the liner (31); a support member (44) supported on the mechanism frame (2) through intermediation of a support shaft (45); a head (43) which is mounted to the support member (44), and is configured to perform printing on at least one of the plurality of labels (32); and a transmissive sensor (65) which is arranged between the head (43) and the support shaft (45), and is configured to detect the at least one of the plurality of labels (32), wherein the mechanism frame (2) includes: a frame portion (23) provided between the head (43) and the support shaft (45) at a distance from the support shaft (45); and a recessed portion (28) which is formed in the frame portion (23), and is configured to increase the distance so as to allow the transmissive sensor (65) to pass through a space having the distance.