Rotating Lid Mechanism for Compact Recording Apparatus

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a compact size due to the need for a sliding lid portion, which increases the apparatus's size and can lead to decreased recording throughput and increased load on the moving mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A recording apparatus with a rotating lid portion that closes over an opening, allowing the lid to maintain a closed posture without sliding, thus reducing the apparatus's size and minimizing the load on the moving mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the lid portion is configured to slide to cover the maintenance apparatus, then the lid portion can protect the ejecting portion, but the recording apparatus increases in size in the sliding direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of ejecting portionVSAvoidsize in sliding direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lid portion is changed from a sliding mechanism to a rotating mechanism. The lid rotates about a rotation axis to move between an open state and a closed state, allowing the ejecting portion to be protected without requiring a long sliding direction. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by maintaining protection functionality while reducing the apparatus size in the sliding direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the lid portion is configured to slide, then the lid can cover the maintenance apparatus, but the load on the moving mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of maintenance apparatusVSAvoidload on moving mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The lid portion is changed from a sliding mechanism to a rotating mechanism. The lid rotates about a rotation axis to move between an open state and a closed state, allowing the ejecting portion to be protected without requiring a long sliding direction. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by maintaining protection functionality while reducing the apparatus size in the sliding direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the lid portion is configured to slide, then the lid can cover the maintenance apparatus, but the recording throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of maintenance apparatusVSAvoidrecording throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid portion is changed from a sliding mechanism to a rotating mechanism. The lid rotates about a rotation axis to move between an open state and a closed state, allowing the ejecting portion to be protected without requiring a long sliding direction. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by maintaining protection functionality while reducing the apparatus size in the sliding direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20240424793A1Recording apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.12.26 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printer includes a line head, a transport unit, a head moving unit, a maintenance unit, a lid unit, and a rotation mechanism portion. The head moving unit moves the line head to a retreat position and a recording position along a B direction. The maintenance unit includes a cap portion configured to cover the nozzles, is formed with an opening, and is movable in a transport direction of a medium. A lid unit is rotatable about a rotation axis, and closes the opening in a closed posture. When the head moving unit moves the line head from the recording position to the retreat position, the rotation mechanism portion rotates the lid unit so that a posture of the lid unit becomes the closed posture.