Recording Apparatus Gap Adjusting Unit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a constant distance between the recording head and the recording medium due to varying medium thicknesses, leading to reduced rigidity of guide rails and decreased recording quality.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a gap adjusting unit that includes a sliding member, cam member, and engagement member, allowing the carriage to adjust the gap between the recording head and the medium while maintaining a constant position, reducing the size of the switching member and preventing deformation of the guide rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engagement surface of the switching section is made large to engage the protrusion during distance adjustment, then the switching operation becomes more reliable, but the opening of the guide rail must be enlarged which reduces the rigidity of the guide rail
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the engagement mechanism from a large surface engagement in the scan direction to a point engagement using a protrusion that extends in the gap adjustment direction. This dimensional change allows the switching section to engage the distance control member effectively without requiring a large opening in the guide rail, thus maintaining guide rail rigidity while ensuring reliable switching operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the orientation and dimensions of the engagement surfaces. Instead of having the switching section engage with a large surface parallel to the scan direction, the distance control member is designed with a protrusion that extends in the gap adjustment direction, changing the engagement parameter from area-based to point-based engagement, which resolves the contradiction between reliability and rigidity.
2Reliability
If the engagement surface of the switching section is made large, then the switching operation is more reliable, but the switching section size increases causing the recording apparatus to be large-sized
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reduces the switching section size by changing the engagement geometry from a large surface parallel to the scan direction to a compact protrusion extending in the gap adjustment direction. This allows reliable point engagement without requiring a large switching section, thereby reducing the overall apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement parameters are changed from large surface area to small point contact, reducing the dimensions of the switching section and distance control member in the scan direction while maintaining effective engagement through the protrusion geometry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the carriage is moved in the scan direction to adjust the distance, then the distance between the recording head and the supporting surface can be changed, but the protrusion position varies causing the switching section to require a large engagement surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the engagement function from the moving carriage and fixes it to the stationary guide rail. The protrusion is formed on the distance control member which is stationary relative to the guide rail, allowing the switching section to engage at a fixed position regardless of carriage movement, ensuring reliable switching operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the switching section move with the carriage to track the protrusion, the invention inverts the approach by making the protrusion stationary on the distance control member and having the switching section fixed on the guide rail. This reversal ensures consistent engagement position while maintaining distance adjustment capability through carriage movement.
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 ensures a consistent gap between the recording head and the medium, maintaining recording quality and reducing the size of the recording apparatus by minimizing the size of the switching member and preventing guide rail deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a cam member (116) that is interposed between part of the housing (88) and the sliding member (114) and has a shape that allows the housing (88) of the carriage (50) to be displaced in the direction in which the gap (PG) varies by sliding in the scan direction relative to the housing (88) and the sliding member (114)
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a carriage that is provided with a recording head which performs recording on a recording medium and is movable in a scan direction of the recording head, a guide member that guides the carriage in the scan direction, and a gap adjusting unit that is interposed between a housing of the carriage and the guide member so as to displace the housing of the carriage in a direction in which a gap varies between the recording medium and the recording head, the gap adjusting unit being mounted on the carriage.