Conveyance Roller Separation Mechanism for Low Insertion Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medium conveyance devices do not adequately address the load involved in moving the nudger roll back to its original position when a paper tray is inserted into the device body, resulting in a need for a mechanism that allows the paper tray to be set with a small amount of force.

Innovation Solution

A medium conveyance device with a roller separation mechanism unit that includes a biasing unit to separate the conveyance roller from the medium, and a contact portion with a first inclined surface and a contacted portion with a second inclined surface, allowing the conveyance roller to be brought into contact with the medium with reduced insertion load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional nudger roll mechanism is used to separate the conveyance roller from the medium, then the roller can be separated from the medium, but the sheet feeding cassette cannot be inserted with a small amount of force due to the load involved in moving the nudger roll back to its original position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion forceVSAvoidload on nudger roll

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the rotation axis orientation from the conventional horizontal axis to a vertical axis (along the attachment/detachment direction). This dimensional change allows the contact portion to utilize inclined surfaces that convert the insertion motion into roller separation, enabling the cassette to be inserted with minimal force while the biasing unit automatically restores the roller to its separated position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a contact portion with inclined surfaces as an intermediary mechanism between the cassette insertion motion and the roller separation. The first inclined surface on the contact portion interacts with the second inclined surface on the contacted portion, creating a mechanical advantage that reduces insertion force while achieving roller separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the conveyance roller is kept in constant contact with the medium, then the medium can be continuously conveyed, but the device size increases and operation becomes difficult when inserting the sheet feeding cassette

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous conveyanceVSAvoidcassette insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic roller separation mechanism where the conveyance roller can automatically transition between contact and separation states. The biasing unit provides continuous restoring force, while the inclined surfaces convert cassette insertion motion into temporary roller separation, enabling easy cassette replacement while maintaining continuous conveyance capability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a strong biasing force is applied to separate the conveyance roller from the medium, then the roller separation is effective, but the mechanism size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroller separation effectivenessVSAvoidmechanism size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the biasing force parameter to provide sufficient roller separation without excessive force. The biasing unit is designed with appropriate spring constants and preloading to achieve reliable roller separation during cassette insertion while maintaining a compact mechanism size. The inclined surface geometry is also optimized to maximize mechanical advantage with minimal biasing force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables the sheet feeding cassette to be inserted with a small amount of force, facilitating smooth operation and reducing the size of the roller separation mechanism unit, thereby downsizing the printer.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing unit configured to perform biasing in a direction in which the conveyance roller is separated from the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the contact portion including a first inclined surface inclined to extend along a straight line including a component in the attachment/detachment direction and a component in the first direction, and the roller separation mechanism unit includes a contacted portion that comes into contact with the contact portion, the contacted portion including a second inclined surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS12264023B2Medium conveyance device and recording device

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A direction orthogonal to an attachment/detachment direction is defined as a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction and to the first direction is defined as a second direction. A sheet feeding cassette includes a contact portion that comes into contact with a roller separation mechanism unit, the contact portion including a first inclined surface inclined to extend along a straight line including a component in the attachment/detachment direction and a component in the first direction. The roller separation mechanism unit includes a contacted portion that comes into contact with the contact portion, the contacted portion including a second inclined surface inclined to extend along a straight line including a component in the attachment/detachment direction and a component in the second direction.