Rotatable Roll Holder for Printing Apparatus Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing apparatuses face difficulties in accurately positioning and holding heavy roll bodies, leading to defects in feeding and winding operations due to improper alignment.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus with a rotatable roll body holder unit that includes a holding member, a contact portion, and a shaft member, allowing for detachable attachment to a support portion, enabling the unit to be positioned and fixed at multiple points, reducing interference and enhancing stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If a conventional holding member is used to hold a heavy roll body, then the roll body can be held, but it becomes difficult to set the heavy roll body and position it accurately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroll body weightVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding member is divided into a first holding member and a second holding member that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows each holding member to independently support portions of the heavy roll body, making it easier to handle and position accurately despite the roll body's weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first holding member is positioned at a first position and the second holding member is positioned at a second position before the roll body is fully set. This preliminary positioning of multiple holding members creates prepared support points that guide the roll body into accurate placement, preventing positioning errors that would occur with a single conventional holding member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the roll body is not disposed at an accurate position, then the holding operation is simple, but defects occur in transporting operation and winding operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding operation simplicityVSAvoidtransporting and winding operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect whether the roll body is correctly positioned on the holding members. This feedback mechanism ensures that accurate positioning is achieved and verified, preventing transporting and winding defects while maintaining ease of operation through automated position verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

By using multiple holding members at different positions rather than a single holding point, the system provides distributed support that inherently guides the roll body to the correct position. This segmented approach makes accurate positioning more achievable while keeping the holding operation simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single holding member is used, then the device structure is simple, but the roll body cannot be positioned accurately and may cause feeding and winding defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding member structure complexityVSAvoidroll body positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding member is segmented into multiple independent holding members (first holding member and second holding member) that can be positioned at different locations. This segmentation increases positioning precision by providing multiple support points while keeping each individual holding member structurally simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each holding member is designed as a universal component that can function independently or in combination with other holding members. This multi-functionality allows the same simple holding member design to be replicated and positioned at multiple locations, achieving high positioning precision without increasing the complexity of individual components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11724902B2Printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Provided is a printing apparatus including: a holder unit provided with a holding member, a contact portion, and a shaft member, and an apparatus body provided with a support portion, and a fixing portion, wherein the shaft member is configured to be detachably attached to the support portion, the holder unit is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position with reference to the shaft member in a state where the shaft member is supported on the support portion, the first position is a position where the shaft member is attached to the support portion, and the second position is a position where the apparatus body fixes the holder unit by the fixing portion, the second position being a position where the contact portion is separated from the installation surface.