Printer Separating Device Guide Curve Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separating devices for print media, such as plastic cards or mats, suffer from high noise levels and mechanical stress due to the use of metal components hitting stops without deceleration, and damping systems are either expensive or lose their effectiveness over time.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a separating device that guides a base component along a guide curve using a four-bar construction and deflection rollers, ensuring precise positioning and minimizing noise by maintaining continuous contact with the stop, and employing an electromagnet with an RC circuit for gentle activation and return movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metallic components are moved against a stop to define a final position, then precise positioning is achieved, but noise levels increase and mechanical stress occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A guide cam is introduced as an intermediary element between the metallic component and the stop. The guide cam has a cam surface that guides the stop, ensuring that the component approaches the end position along a controlled path and is decelerated before contact, thereby reducing noise and mechanical stress while maintaining positioning precision
Solution Approach 2:
The guide cam surface is designed to provide gradual deceleration of the metallic component before it reaches the stop position. This beforehand cushioning effect reduces the impact velocity, minimizing noise and mechanical stress during the positioning process
2Object-generated harmful factors
If damping systems are used to reduce noise, then noise levels decrease, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide cam mechanism replaces complex damping systems (hydraulic or elastic) with a simpler mechanical guidance solution. The cam surface inherently provides the necessary deceleration and positioning control through its geometric profile, eliminating the need for separate damping components
3Object-generated harmful factors
If elastic materials are used for damping, then noise is reduced, but positioning precision is compromised and materials harden over time
Solution Approach 1:
The guide cam provides a rigid mechanical guidance system that maintains precise positioning without relying on elastic materials. The cam surface geometry ensures accurate positioning while the gradual deceleration profile reduces noise, eliminating the trade-off between precision and noise reduction
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
The solution achieves low-noise operation and reduced mechanical stress by ensuring precise positioning and gentle movement of components, preventing component collisions and maintaining contact throughout the process.
Implementation Method 1
the plate (2, 30) is connected to a magnetic armature (15, 39) guided within an electromagnet (16, 41)
Implementation Method 2
the electromagnet (16, 41) is advantageously connected to an RC circuit (23)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a printer (100) for a plate-like printing medium (101), in particular a card or label for labeling electrical devices, connectors, cables, or the like, which are stacked in a stack (102), comprising a separating device (103; 1) for separating a printing medium (101) from the stack (102) and a printing device (104), which is characterized in that the separating device (103) has a driving element (1) having at least one base component (2; 30), which is provided with at least one guiding curve (40, 50; 301, 302) for a stop means (10, 11; 36) for the motion of the base component (2; 30) between a start position and an end position, the stop means (10, 11; 36) being guided along the guiding curve (40, 50; 301, 302) by means of a joint construction. The stop means, which is guided along the guiding curve and connected to the base component, ensures that the base component, which is designed in particular as a plate, can be exactly positioned both in the start position and in the end position. High noise generation is avoided, because the pivotable stop means permanently lies against the moving base component, follows the motion of the base component, and runs into a dead point without the base component hitting another component.