Printing Tray Adapter Positioning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in reliably holding adapters for thicker printing media, such as cards or discs, due to deformation and warping, which can lead to misalignment and poor positioning during borderless printing.
Innovation Solution
A tray with a recessed portion and a slidable pressing member, along with elastic members and regulating portions, is designed to securely hold adapters by preventing them from floating, using protrusions and abutting surfaces to maintain precise positioning and prevent movement during printing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adapter is formed of paper or material with ink receiving layer to enable borderless printing, then borderless printing capability is improved, but the adapter deforms due to warping and easily floats with respect to the tray
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is divided into a base portion and a pressing portion as separate functional segments. The base portion provides structural stability and prevents floating, while the pressing portion applies localized pressure to secure the printing medium. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the adapter are given different properties: the base portion has a larger area for stability and includes positioning protrusions, while the pressing portion has a smaller area concentrated at the center for applying pressure. The ink receiving layer is selectively applied only where needed for borderless printing, reducing overall material usage and deformation risk.
2Manufacturing precision
If a pressing member is made slideable to press the printing medium, then positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is merged with the adapter itself rather than being a separate mechanism. The adapter's pressing portion directly performs the pressing function, eliminating the need for independent pressing mechanisms. This integration maintains positioning precision while avoiding additional complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member is designed to be slidable along the tray surface, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and apply pressure only when needed. This dynamic capability enables precise positioning control without requiring complex locking or fixing mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure.
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 tray effectively suppresses adapter movement and maintains precise positioning, ensuring accurate printing on various media shapes and sizes without deformation issues, enhancing printing reliability and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing member (42) which is slidable in the inserting direction of the tray (3) and which presses the printing medium (11) placed in the recessed portion (41)
Data Source
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AI summary
A tray for a printing apparatus including a conveying means that conveys the tray holding a printing medium, and a printing means that performs printing onto a print surface of the printing medium on the tray, includes: a placement surface for placing thereon an adapter that holds the printing medium; a pressing member (42) disposed on the upstream side of the adapter in the inserting direction of the tray to press the adapter placed on the placement surface toward a downstream side of the inserting direction; a regulating portion (45) configured to regulate a movement of the adapter by abutting the adapter pressed by the pressing member; and an opening (48A, 48B) disposed adjacent to the regulating portion and into which a protrusion of the adapter is insertable.