Diploma projectStack

Stack

My diploma project is a compact ink jet printer, which is placed on top of a paper pile. When printing, “Stack” slowly moves downwards and swallows the pile until no paper is left. The paper disappears under the printer and exits on top, where it creates a new pile.Thanks to this new way of printing it is possible to remove the paper tray, the bulkiest element in common printers. This concept allows a very light appearance and avoids frequent reloading.

Find out more about this project:www.mugiyamamoto.com/stack

Compact printer

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ResearchGetting to understand printers C 100 M 0 Y 0 K 0

Cyan

As soon as I had the concept, I had to find out if my idea could be realized. Therefore I disassembled existing printers to learn from their interior and I modified them.

If the printer is too heavy, the weight disturbs the function of pulling the paper off the pile. Therefore the printer must have the smallest possible weight while the wheels must have enough power to overcome the pressure of the loading. This combination of conditions turned out to be a big challenge for my work.

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HP Deskjet 3520

I found out that the newest generation of HP printers had a very powerful wheel which pulls in the paper. The printer has a low energy consumption and is very lightweight and supports wifi-printing. For these reasons it was the ideal model to be modified for my project.

Printer and Scanner

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Canon Pixma iP100

This printer is the smallest one available on the market. To see more detail please have a look at the picture on the folllowing double page.

I opened the Pixma iP100 to learn about the possibilities of minimizing printer parts. Then I improved the interior of my printer with these newly discovered parts.

The smallest cartridges on the market

Mobile printer

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Canon Pixma iP100The interior parts

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ResearchShape developmentHow the shape evolved

MagentaC 0 M 100 Y 0 K 0

To develop the final shape needed many weeks of research by doing sketches, 3D-renderings and styrofoam models. The challenge was, to give this new product an iconic, but still simple and intuitive shape.

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Shape developmentThe evolution of the shape

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Shape developmentThe evolution of the shape

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How should the paper exit?

The printed paper sheets are distributed with a certain speed. This makes it possible to keep the exit very minimal. In spite of the reduced design, the paper tray is still able to hold up to 50 printed pages.

Throwing mechanism

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A-A (1 : 2) spring

The path of paper sheets

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Units in mmMugi Yamamoto June 2013 Page 1/1

Stack 1:5Scale

moving wheel

cartridges

The moving wheel

The moving wheel underneath the printer is made of rubber to have the ideal paper friction coefficient. Because of the spring, the wheel part is always at the perfect height and pressure. If the printer is on the paper pile, it needs bigger force to pull the paper, the spring is compressed and is executing maximum force. When there are only a few papers left, the wheel is lowered, the spring extended and the force minimized. This flexibility means that the wheel always works, even if there is only one sheet of paper left.

Handling different heights of paper stacks

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Model makingGiving a shape

YellowC 0 M 0 Y 100 K 0

The shape model is made by thermoformed polyethylene and has a interior made of MDF and electronic components. It demonstrates the size and shape of the printer and the ejection of the paper.

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The interiorMechanism to throw out paper

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Final productOutside shell and inside parts

KeyC 0 M 0 Y 0 K 100

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Final productSpecifications

The final shape consists of two injection molded pieces made of high-density polyethylene. This makes it cheap, stable and gives it a good resistance to chemicals.

The upper part is colored in light grey, which makes paper sheets lying on top more visible, while the base part is black to give the product contrast and character.

The wires which guide the falling papers can be folded inwards to minimize the volume of the printer for shipping and storage.

The printer has a built in lithium-polymer battery which allows it to be run without cable. To run it line powered, there is a electric cable, which is also used for charging. The interior parts are composed of lightweight aluminium and plastic in order to keep the weight of the printer at a minimum.

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Not in use Ready Printing Job done

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Ink cartridges

Lithium polymer accumulator

Main en-

Buttons

Rubber string

Ink pump

Ink sponge

Cartridge engine

Motherboard

Speed controller

Inside viewInternal components

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ECAL 2013Mugi Yamamotowww.mugiyamamoto.com