Printing Head Base Clamping to Suppress Thermal Warpage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face the risk of deformation due to warpage caused by heat from heaters, which can lead to misalignment of ink droplets and degraded printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus design that includes a head unit base supported by a head unit base holding unit, fixed using first and second fixation members, allowing the head unit base to be securely sandwiched between these members in the longitudinal direction, thereby preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the head unit base is held by a single head unit base holding unit, then the structure is simple, but warpage caused by heat from heaters occurs leading to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit base holding unit is divided into first and second holding units positioned at opposite ends of the head unit base. This segmentation allows independent support at multiple locations, preventing warpage while maintaining structural simplicity. Each holding unit can be independently positioned to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation method transitions from single-point fixation to multi-point fixation along the longitudinal dimension. By distributing fixation points at both ends of the head unit base, the system adds dimensional distribution to the fixation strategy, effectively preventing deformation without significantly increasing complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the head unit base is fixed using multiple fixation members at both ends, then warpage is suppressed, but the fixation structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation structure is segmented into first and second fixation members located at opposite ends of the head unit base. This segmentation distributes the fixation function across multiple simple components rather than using one complex fixation mechanism, achieving high fixation accuracy without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second fixation members work together as a coordinated system to clamp the head unit base between them. By merging their opposing fixation actions, they create a stable, deformation-free assembly that is more effective than either fixation member alone while maintaining individual component simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a head unit base configured to support a plurality of heads, a head unit base holding unit including a first head unit base holding unit that holds one end of the head unit base in a longitudinal direction of the head unit base, and a second head unit base holding unit that similarly holds the other end of the head unit base in the longitudinal direction, a first fixation member configured to fix the head unit base to the first head unit base holding unit, and a second fixation member configured to fix the head unit base to the second head unit base holding unit, wherein the head unit base and the head unit base holding unit are fixed to each other by placing the head unit base on a first upper surface of the first head unit base holding unit and a second upper surface of the second head unit base holding unit and sandwiching the head unit base between the first fixation member and the second fixation member in the longitudinal direction.