DFAA - No Springs

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Eliminating or at least minimizing the number of springs is a key DFAA guideline. Traditional extension springs that must be pulled over posts are difficult to assemble manually and impossible to do so automatically.

The Proprinter design team removed all extension springs from their design. They found that they still needed to apply pressure on the paper roller. To fill this requirement, they developed a cantilever spring that was molded into the side frame. This eliminated all of the handling and assembly problems while maintaining functionality. The cantilever springs that hold the paper roller also have bearings mounted onto the end to allow the roller to spin freely.

Design of a molded-in catilever spring

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Last Updated: October 26, 1998, NEEDS Staff
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