Cellular Omni Wheel Platform for Print Media Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current registration systems in printing devices face difficulties in handling larger print media due to limitations in aligning and positioning, particularly with nips that are spaced for smaller media sizes, leading to misalignment issues such as lateral input errors and skew.

Innovation Solution

A registration system utilizing a platform of cellular omni wheels, coupled with sensors and a processor, which detects the position of the print media and adjusts the omni wheels' movement to correct alignment errors, allowing for greater directional control and handling of print media of various sizes and lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional registration systems with fixed nips are used, then smaller print media can be handled, but larger print media cannot be properly aligned due to fixed nip spacing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling capability for different print media sizesVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The registration system is divided into multiple independently controllable omni wheels arranged in a cellular platform. Each omni wheel can be individually actuated to provide localized registration forces, allowing the system to adapt to various print media sizes while maintaining precise alignment through distributed control points rather than fixed nips

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static fixed nips to dynamic omni wheels that can move and adjust their positions. The omni wheels are controlled by actuators that enable real-time adjustment of registration forces and positions, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different print media dimensions while maintaining alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If movable carriages and fixed nips are used in registration systems, then alignment can be achieved for certain media sizes, but the system design becomes complex and cannot handle larger media effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregistration alignment precisionVSAvoidregistration system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines multiple omni wheels into a unified cellular platform that works together as an integrated registration system. This merged structure eliminates the need for separate movable carriages and fixed nips, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining alignment precision through coordinated control of the omni wheel array

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical registration mechanisms (movable carriages, fixed nips) with a controlled array of omni wheels that use rotational movement and friction-based contact. This substitution simplifies the mechanical structure while achieving precise registration through electronic control of wheel rotation and positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20190308833A1Platform of cellular omni wheels for a registration system

Publication Date: 2019.10.10 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A registration system for a printing device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. For example, the registration system includes at least one sensor to detect a position of a print media, a platform comprising a plurality of cellular omni wheels, and a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the plurality of cellular omni wheels, wherein the processor calculates a desired movement of each one of the plurality of cellular omni wheels based on the position of the print media.