Sheet Transport Buffer for Quieter Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices produce loud sounds when correcting the skew of transported media due to strong collisions with skew correction units, particularly when handling sheets of varying sizes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a buffer unit with a contact portion that decelerates the medium before skew correction, reducing the impact force by maintaining a lower transport velocity and using elastic members or dampers to minimize collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the medium is allowed to collide strongly with the skew correction unit to correct skew, then the skew correction effectiveness is improved, but the noise generated during transport increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer unit with a buffer member positioned between the first transport unit and the skew correction unit. This buffer member reduces the transport velocity of the medium before it reaches the skew correction unit, thereby cushioning the impact and reducing noise while still allowing effective skew correction. The buffer unit is configured to maintain the medium's transport trajectory while reducing its velocity, solving the contradiction between effective skew correction and noise reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the buffer unit reduces transport velocity to minimize collision impact, then noise is reduced, but the transport efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is segmented into distinct functional units: the first transport unit maintains normal high-speed transport, the buffer unit provides localized velocity reduction only where needed for noise reduction, and the skew correction unit performs its function. This segmentation allows the system to maintain overall transport efficiency while reducing noise in the specific region where the medium interacts with the skew correction unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer unit is designed to dynamically adjust the medium's velocity - reducing it only in the vicinity of the skew correction unit while allowing it to regain speed afterward. The buffer member's elastic properties enable it to temporarily store and release energy, creating a dynamic velocity modulation that reduces noise without permanently affecting transport efficiency.
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 effectively reduces the noise generated during skew correction by minimizing strong collisions, ensuring smooth operation and maintaining throughput while correcting skew without hindering transport.
Implementation Method 1
the buffer unit is configured such that a second transport velocity is lower than a first transport velocity... and the buffer unit is configured such that the contact portion does not collide with the medium strongly enough to correct the skew of the medium
Implementation Method 2
using elastic members or dampers to minimize collisions
Data Source
AI summary
A transport device includes a skew correction unit configured to correct skew of a medium by colliding with the medium and a buffer unit provided with a contact portion configured to come into contact with the medium between a first transport unit transporting the medium to the skew correction unit and the skew correction unit in a transport direction. The buffer unit is configured such that a second transport velocity is lower than a first transport velocity, the first transport velocity being a transport velocity of the medium upstream of the buffer unit in the transport direction, the second transport velocity being a transport velocity of the medium when the medium collides with the skew correction unit after coming into contact with the contact portion. The buffer unit is configured such that the contact portion does not collide with the medium strongly enough to correct the skew of the medium.