Printer Tube Support Above Cutter Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printers, the tube supporting ink supply is often positioned between the cutter opening and the discharge port, obstructing visibility of the cutter during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A printer design featuring a first and second ink storage unit, an ejection head, a carriage, and a tube coupling system, where the exterior member includes a slide contact surface positioned above the cutter opening, allowing the tube to be slidably supported without obstructing cutter visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tube is supported by the exterior member at a conventional position, then the tube is stable and properly positioned, but the tube obstructs visibility of the cutter during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The tube support surface is positioned in the vertical direction above the opening region, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the conflict between tube support and cutter visibility. This spatial repositioning allows the tube to be supported without obstructing the opening while maintaining proper tube positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the tube support is positioned above the opening, then cutter visibility is improved, but the tube may become unstable or improperly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The interior surface of the exterior member is provided with a slide contact surface at a specific location above the opening region. This localized feature provides stable tube support through controlled contact, ensuring the tube remains properly positioned while maintaining cutter visibility through the opening.
3Productivity
If the tube is positioned between the opening and cutter, then the tube is easily accessible for ink supply, but it obstructs maintenance access to the cutter
Solution Approach 1:
The tube support function is extracted from the conventional position near the opening and relocated to a dedicated slide contact surface positioned above the opening region. This separation allows the tube to be properly supported for ink supply while removing the obstruction to cutter maintenance access.
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
Ensures unobstructed visibility of the cutter during maintenance by positioning the tube support above the opening, reduces interference between the tube and cutter, and allows for efficient ink supply while minimizing the transport region size.
Implementation Method 1
an inner surface of the exterior member includes a first slide contact surface with which the tube can be brought into slide contact
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes: a first ink storage unit and a second ink storage unit; an ejection head; a carriage configured to move the ejection head and the second ink storage unit; a tube coupling the first and the second ink storage unit to each other; a first exterior member positioned in front of the carriage; and a cutter configured to move in a scanning direction between the carriage and the first exterior member, wherein an opening is formed in the first exterior member at a position in front of the cutter, an inner surface of the first exterior member includes a first slide contact surface with which the tube can be brought into slide contact, and the first slide contact surface is positioned in an opening region where the opening is formed in the scanning direction and in a region above the opening in a vertical direction.