Card Transport Device with Restrictor for Feeding Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card transport devices fail to reliably feed cards due to their stiffness and size, causing them to slide back upstream along the separation wall's slope, leading to feeding failures.
Innovation Solution
A card transport device with a support surface, a feed unit, a separator, and a restrictor that positions the card downstream from the feed unit, using a recess and friction members to prevent misalignment and ensure proper feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cards are directly supported on the support surface, then the feed unit can access the cards, but the cards slide back upstream along the slope due to their weight and stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor is positioned upstream of the card to apply a preliminary counteracting force against the downstream gravitational component, preventing the card from sliding back upstream before the feed unit operates. This preliminary anti-action neutralizes the harmful effect of weight on the slope.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictor acts as an intermediary element between the support surface and the card, providing a localized friction force that counteracts the card's tendency to slide. This intermediary structure enables reliable feeding by mediating the interaction between the card's weight and the support surface.
2Reliability
If the separator is positioned to separate cards, then card separation is achieved, but cards may misalign upstream before reaching the feed unit
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor is positioned upstream of the card to preliminarily establish the correct card position before the card reaches the separator. This preliminary positioning action ensures that cards are properly aligned and prevented from sliding back, enabling both effective separation and precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictor creates a localized friction zone at a specific position upstream of the card, applying a concentrated counteracting force only where needed. This local quality approach prevents upstream sliding without interfering with the separator's function downstream.
3Speed
If the slope extends upward toward the separator, then card transport to the separator is facilitated, but cards slide back upstream due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor applies a preliminary counteracting force upstream of the card to neutralize the gravitational component acting on the slope. This preliminary anti-action prevents the card from sliding back upstream, ensuring consistent feeding despite the slope's downward pull.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictor provides a counteracting force that balances the component of gravitational force acting on the card along the slope. This counterweight effect allows the card to remain stationary or move controllably despite the slope's inclination.
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 device effectively transports cards by restricting the card's position and using friction to prevent sliding back, ensuring the feed unit can accurately feed cards without failure.
Implementation Method 1
a restrictor located on the support surface... positioning a downstream end of the particular card to be downstream from the feed unit in the transport direction
Data Source
AI summary
A card transport device transports one or more cards while reducing failures of its feed unit in feeding the cards. A card transport device includes a support surface that supports one or more cards thereon, a feed unit facing the support surface for feeding the one or more chards, a separator located downstream from the feed unit in a transport direction, a slope connected to a downstream support end of the support surface in the transport direction and extending obliquely upward downstream in the transport direction toward the separator, and a restrictor located on the support surface. The restrictor restricts a position of an upstream end of a particular card directly supported on the support surface, out of the one or more cards, thereby positioning a downstream end of the particular card to be downstream from the feed unit in the transport direction.