Rotatable Liquid Ejecting Head Support for Easier Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, face challenges with poor visibility and accessibility to individual liquid ejecting heads, making maintenance difficult due to their configuration.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a support unit that includes a rotatable support body for the liquid ejecting heads, allowing them to be positioned in an inclined posture for easier maintenance access and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a plurality of liquid ejecting heads are supported by a support unit in a fixed configuration, then the structural stability is improved, but the visibility and accessibility to each liquid ejecting head deteriorates, making maintenance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support body is made rotatable about a rotation shaft, transforming the static support structure into a dynamic one. This allows the liquid ejecting heads to be repositioned from a horizontal arrangement during operation to an inclined arrangement during maintenance, simultaneously maintaining structural stability and improving maintenance accessibility
2Area of stationary object
If the liquid ejecting heads are arranged in a compact configuration, then the device size is reduced, but the distance between operator and heads increases, reducing visibility and accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rotational movement as an additional degree of freedom, allowing the support body to pivot and bring the liquid ejecting heads closer to the operator during maintenance. This transforms a two-dimensional compact arrangement into a three-dimensional configurable structure, maintaining small footprint while improving accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a liquid ejecting head configured to eject a liquid in an ejection direction; and a support unit having a support body that supports the liquid ejecting head and a base portion that supports the support body, and the support body is rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the ejection direction with respect to the base portion.