Vertically Extended Printer with Rotatable Discharge Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Desktop printers occupy large spaces due to their footprint, making it difficult to efficiently use space in homes or small offices when used with monitors, and may compromise accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A vertically oriented printer design with a rotatable main body and discharge guide, allowing it to be compactly integrated with a monitor, ensuring secure accessibility and a synchronized user experience during printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a general desktop printer is used, then printing function is provided, but the footprint occupies large space on the desk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the printer from a horizontal footprint orientation to a vertical orientation, changing the primary dimension of space occupation from the horizontal plane to the vertical dimension. This allows the printer to occupy minimal desk surface area while maintaining its printing capabilities and accessibility through vertical paper feed and output.
Solution Approach 2:
The printer is integrated within or positioned in close proximity to the monitor, with the paper feed path and output mechanism nested within the monitor's structural envelope. This nesting arrangement allows the printer to share the monitor's spatial footprint, effectively hiding the printer's physical presence while maintaining full functionality.
2Area of stationary object
If a large desk is needed to put both desktop printer and monitor, then both devices can be used, but space utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the printer and monitor into a single integrated unit or closely coupled system, where the printer's paper feed and output mechanisms are combined with the monitor's structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate desk spaces for each device, allowing both to coexist within a compact footprint optimized for small offices and home environments.
3Area of stationary object
If desktop printer is put on a separate desk near monitor, then space on main desk is freed, but accessibility to printer deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the printer at a vertical elevation adjacent to the monitor rather than horizontally separated on a different surface. The vertical paper feed and output are positioned within easy reach of the user's hand while the user operates the monitor, maintaining accessibility without requiring the user to move to a separate desk location.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a vertical type main body accommodating a printing portion that prints an image onto a print medium transported along a vertically oriented printing path, including an outlet through which the print medium is discharged. A depth of the main body may be less than a width and a height of the main body. The printer may further include a stand supporting the main body such that the main body is rotatable forward and backward, a discharge guide mounted to the main body to be rotatable in a vertical direction and guiding the print medium discharged from the outlet forward, and an elastic member applying an elastic force to the discharge guide in a direction in which the discharge guide is rotated upward.