Scanner Carriage Integration for Inkjet MFP Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet multi-function machines require separate driving units for scanners and print heads, leading to increased weight, size, and complexity, as well as higher fabrication costs due to the need for additional sensors for detecting head characteristics and paper alignment during printing operations.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet multi-function machine design where a scanner is installed on a carriage that reciprocates the print head, allowing both scanning and printing operations using a single driving apparatus, and incorporating a scanner fixing unit that adjusts the scanner's position between scanning and printing orientations, enabling detection of head characteristics and paper alignment without separate sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate driving units are used for scanner and print head, then scanning and printing operations can be independently performed, but machine weight and size increase and structure becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the scanner and print head onto a single carriage that is driven by one common driving unit. The carriage moves both the scanner and print head together along the paper feed direction, eliminating the need for separate driving mechanisms while maintaining the ability to perform both scanning and printing operations independently through coordinated control of the single driving unit.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensors are installed for detecting head characteristics and paper alignment, then detection accuracy is improved, but fabrication cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the scanner serve multiple functions: it not only performs document scanning but also detects head characteristics (such as nozzle status and dot size) and paper alignment during printing operations. By utilizing the scanner's imaging capability for both scanning and detection purposes, the need for separate dedicated sensors is eliminated, reducing fabrication costs while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If scanner is fixed in one position, then scanning operation is simplified, but printing operation requires additional sensors for detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the scanner on the movable carriage rather than fixing it to the machine frame. The scanner moves dynamically with the carriage during both scanning and printing operations. This dynamic positioning allows the scanner to maintain optimal detection positions for both document scanning and print quality monitoring without requiring additional fixed sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet multi-function machine having cooperating scanning and printing functions, and more particularly, an inkjet multi-function machine in which a scanner is engaged with a printing carriage to communicate common motion, in addition to providing scanning specific motions. The inkjet multi-function machine includes a scanner fixing unit having a scanner position adjuster for fixing and supporting the scanner, wherein the scanner is movable between a first rotational direction and elevated position for scanning a document, and a second rotational direction and elevated position for scanning a sheet of paper, wherein the scanner can move together with the carriage when the carriage moves, and at the same time, selectively move between the first and the second directions and elevated positions.