Adjustable Capstan Roller for Dual Instant Film Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers and digital cameras with printers struggle to efficiently transport and process two types of instant films with different sizes, often resulting in difficulties in transporting the smaller film or crushing the developer pod.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a capstan roller and pinch roller, featuring spike roller members with convex portions and a sub roller member, allows for the transportation of both square and card type instant films by adjusting the positioning of the roller members to match the dimensions of each film type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If roller members are arranged to correspond to the width dimension of a first instant film, then the first instant film can be transported reliably, but the second instant film with different width dimension cannot be transported or may be crushed
Solution Approach 1:
The roller members are made movable relative to each other along the rotational shaft, allowing their positions to be dynamically adjusted. The drive mechanism enables the roller members to move to different locations on the rotational shaft, transforming the static roller arrangement into a dynamic one that can adapt to different film widths while maintaining reliable transport through controlled positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The capstan roller is divided into multiple independent roller members (first roller member, second roller member, third roller member) that can be positioned separately. This segmentation allows each roller member to be independently positioned to match the width dimension of the specific instant film being transported, enabling versatile adaptation without compromising transport reliability.
2Reliability
If a media pack with dedicated transport roller is used for each film size, then film transport is reliable, but part replacement work is required and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single capstan roller with multiple adjustable roller members is designed to handle multiple instant film sizes universally. The roller members can be repositioned along the rotational shaft to accommodate different width dimensions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated transport rollers for each film size and reducing part replacement requirements while maintaining transport reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable roller members with adjustable positioning capability allow the same transport device to adapt dynamically to different film sizes. This dynamic adjustment mechanism eliminates the need for static dedicated rollers for each film type, reducing device complexity and part replacement work while ensuring reliable transport across different instant film dimensions.
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 the low-cost use of two types of instant films without the need for part replacement, ensuring reliable transportation and processing of both film sizes, thereby reducing operational effort and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of spike roller members and a pinch roller transport the first instant film in a state of pinching both side edge portions of the first instant film
Implementation Method 2
the capstan roller and the pinch roller transport the first instant film in a state of pinching both side edge portions of the first instant film
Data Source
AI summary
A transport roller pair that includes a capstan roller and a pinch roller is provided. The capstan roller includes a rotational shaft, a pair of spike roller members that are arranged at intervals from each other so as to correspond to a dimension of a first instant film in a width direction, and a sub roller member that is disposed at an interval with respect to the spike roller member so as to correspond to a dimension of a second instant film in a width direction.