Rotatable Ink Tube Holder for Printing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink supply type printing apparatuses experience deformation of the ink tube due to reciprocating movement, leading to increased load on the tube and potential damage from accumulated stress.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a rotatable first tube holder and a displaceable second tube holder that absorb and distribute the movement of the ink tube, reducing the load applied to it by allowing rotation and movement in multiple axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the ink tube is fixed to the carriage, then the ink tube can be securely held, but the ink tube undergoes follow-up deformation and accumulates load during reciprocating movement
Solution Approach 1:
The first tube holder is made rotatable with respect to the carriage, and the second tube holder is made displaceable in multiple directions. This dynamic design allows the tube holders to move and rotate in response to the ink tube's deformation during reciprocating movement, preventing forced posture and reducing accumulated load on the ink tube while maintaining secure holding.
2Shape
If the ink tube is fixed rigidly, then the posture is controlled, but the load accumulates due to forced posture during reciprocation
Solution Approach 1:
The tube holders are designed with rotational and translational degrees of freedom, enabling them to dynamically adjust the ink tube's posture during reciprocating movement. This allows the ink tube to deform naturally without being forced into an unnatural position, thereby controlling the posture while minimizing the load applied to the tube.
3Device complexity
If a single fixed tube holder is used, then the structure is simple, but the ink tube cannot accommodate reciprocating movement without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tube holding system is divided into two separate tube holders: the first tube holder that rotates with respect to the carriage, and the second tube holder that displaces in multiple directions relative to the first tube holder. This segmentation allows each holder to independently accommodate different aspects of the ink tube's deformation, improving reliability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a carriage, ink tanks, ink tubes, and a first tube holder. The carriage reciprocates in a predetermined direction with respect to a recording medium and has recording heads ejecting ink to the recording medium. The ink tanks are arranged outside the carriage and are configured to contain ink. The ink tubes connect the ink tanks and the recording heads to each other to supply the ink contained in the ink tanks to the recording heads, and the ink tubes undergo follow-up deformation along with reciprocating movement of the carriage. The first tube holder is rotatably supported with respect to the carriage and holds the ink tubes.