Tape Printer Cover Opening Mechanism with Spring-Loaded Button
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tape printers require users to manually lift the opening/closing cover and the printer main body to open the cartridge installation portion, making the process complicated and requiring two hands.
Innovation Solution
A tape printer design that includes a cover urging portion to rotate and urge the opening/closing cover in an opening direction when opened and a closing direction when closed, facilitated by a cover opening operation portion with an opening button, allowing the cover to be opened by pressing the button, simplifying the operation and improving usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the opening/closing cover is urged in the closing direction when closed, then the rattling of the closed opening/closing cover is prevented, but the opening of the opening/closing cover becomes complicated requiring two hands
Solution Approach 1:
The opening operation is divided into two independent actions: (1) pressing the opening button to release the locking engagement, and (2) the cover urging portion automatically rotating the cover to the opened position. This segmentation allows the user to open the cover with one hand while maintaining stability when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover urging portion is pre-configured to automatically rotate the opening/closing cover to the opened position as soon as the locking engagement is released by pressing the opening button. This preliminary arrangement of the urging mechanism ensures that the cover opens smoothly without requiring manual lifting, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of opening.
2Reliability
If a pressing spring urges the engagement lever in the closing direction, then the cover remains closed and rattling is prevented, but the cover cannot be easily opened
Solution Approach 1:
The opening button acts as an intermediary that temporarily overcomes the pressing spring force to release the engagement lever from the locked position. Once released, the pressing spring's stored energy is redirected through the cover urging portion to automatically open the cover, thus maintaining both stability during closure and ease of opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement lever is designed to be dynamically switchable between a locked state (held by the pressing spring) and an unlocked state (released by the opening button). This dynamic transition allows the system to maintain stability when closed while enabling easy opening when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the opening/closing cover is lifted up to open the cartridge installation portion, then access is gained, but the printer main body is also lifted up requiring two hands
Solution Approach 1:
The cover urging portion is designed to automatically perform the opening action itself once the opening button is pressed. The mechanism uses the pressing spring's stored energy to rotate the cover open, making the system self-serving and eliminating the need for the user to manually lift both the cover and printer main body.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of lifting the cover and printer main body is replaced by an automated mechanical system consisting of the opening button, engagement lever, and cover urging portion. This substitution transforms a complex two-handed operation into a simple one-button action.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy opening of the opening/closing cover with a single finger press, enhancing user experience and preventing rattling, while a cover locking portion secures the cartridge installation portion, preventing accidental opening.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing spring to urge the engagement lever in an engagement direction
Implementation Method 2
the pressing spring urges the opening/closing cover in a closing direction via the engagement lever and the rib-shaped projection in a state in which the opening/closing cover is closed
Implementation Method 3
a cover urging portion that rotates and urges the opening/closing cover in an opening direction in a state in which the opening/closing cover is rotated to an opening side to get across a prescribed rotation position
Implementation Method 4
an opening/closing cover that rotates about a hinge portion to open/close the cartridge installation portion
Implementation Method 5
a cover opening operation portion that has an opening button and rotates the opening/closing cover to the opening side to get across the prescribed rotation position with a force to press the opening button
Data Source
AI summary
A tape printer includes a cartridge installation portion to install a tape cartridge, an opening/closing cover that rotates about a hinge portion to open/close the cartridge installation portion, a cover urging portion that rotates and urges the opening/closing cover in an opening direction in a state in which the opening/closing cover is rotated to an opening side to get across a prescribed rotation position and that rotates and urges the opening/closing cover in a closing direction in a state in which the opening/closing cover is rotated to a closing side to get across the prescribed rotation position, and a cover opening operation portion that has an opening button and rotates the opening/closing cover to the opening side to get across the prescribed rotation position with a force to press the opening button. The cover opening operation portion has the opening button, a leverage member, and a rotation spring.