Two-Part Spring-Loaded Spindle for Printer Paper Buckets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roll printers face issues with paper jams and rips due to lack of spindle support, difficulty in loading and removing paper rolls, and inability to accommodate varying paper widths without excess drag.
Innovation Solution
A two-part spring-loaded spindle mechanism with chamfered surfaces and a pin-and-hole arrangement, allowing for easy loading and removal of paper rolls of varying widths, and a drive mechanism with a worm gear for adjusting side walls to accommodate different widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If no spindle support is provided in the paper bucket, then the device complexity is reduced, but unnecessary drag on the paper roll is created resulting in increased potential for paper jams or rips
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle is divided into two separate parts: a fixed spindle portion attached to the paper bucket and a movable spindle portion that can be independently displaced. This segmentation allows the movable portion to be pushed out to facilitate easy paper roll loading while the fixed portion remains stationary, reducing drag on the paper roll and improving reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The movable spindle portion is designed to be dynamically displaceable relative to the fixed spindle portion along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic configuration allows the spindle to adapt between a loaded state (with paper roll) and an unloaded state (without paper roll), enabling easy loading/removal operations while maintaining proper support during operation to prevent paper jams and rips
2Reliability
If a removable spindle that spans across the paper bucket is used, then paper roll support is improved, but the spindle must be at least partially removed for paper loading making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the spindle into fixed and movable portions, the system allows the movable portion to be independently pushed out to create loading space. This eliminates the need to remove the entire spindle assembly, making paper loading and removal operations simple and intuitive while maintaining reliable paper roll support during printing
Solution Approach 2:
The movable spindle portion acts as an intermediary element between the fixed spindle and the paper roll. It can be pushed out to facilitate paper roll insertion and then retracted to provide proper support, serving as a mediator that enables easy operation while maintaining reliable paper roll support throughout the process
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed spindle is used to support paper rolls, then paper roll stability is improved, but the mechanism is not easily adjustable to different paper widths
Solution Approach 1:
The movable spindle portion can be dynamically adjusted along the longitudinal axis to accommodate different paper roll positions and widths. When a paper roll is loaded, the movable spindle portion is pushed out to the appropriate position, providing stable support adapted to the specific paper width, while maintaining overall system stability through the fixed spindle portion
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
The solution enables easy paper roll loading and removal, reduces drag, and accommodates larger paper rolls without increased mechanical stress, improving printer functionality and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The first spindle part and the second spindle part of each of the spindle assemblies may be biased by a biasing force into a position extending into the paper bucket... The biasing force for each of the spindle parts may be provided by a corresponding spring mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for supporting a paper roll in a paper bucket (10) of a printer are provided. The paper bucket (10) may comprise a curved base portion (12) for accepting paper rolls of varying widths, two oppositely disposed side walls (14) movably mounted to the curved base portion (12), and a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly (16) extending through each of the side walls (14) and adapted to support a paper roll therebetween. Each spindle assembly (16) may comprise a first spring loaded spindle part (18) and a second spring loaded spindle part (20) movably connected to one another.