Conveyance Unit Size Reduction for Printing Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing apparatuses with larger conveyance units for handling larger recording media incur increased transportation costs, and previous solutions requiring division and reassembly of conveyance units are time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A conveyance device and printing apparatus that can easily reduce and restore the conveyance unit in size, allowing for modular transportation and installation without the need for on-site assembly or disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the conveyance unit is made larger to handle larger recording media, then the handling capability is improved, but the transportation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capabilityVSAvoidtransportation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyance unit is divided into multiple separable components: a fixed section and a movable section that can be detached. This segmentation allows the conveyance unit to be configured in different sizes depending on the recording medium being handled, while also enabling partial disassembly for transportation, thus reducing transportation costs without compromising handling capability when fully assembled

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyance unit incorporates a movable section that can be extended or retracted based on the size of the recording medium. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its size and capacity to match the specific handling requirements, avoiding the need to always transport a fully extended large-scale conveyance unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the conveyance unit is divided into blocks for separate transportation, then the transportation cost is reduced, but the time and effort required for assembly and disassembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation costVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyance unit is segmented into a fixed section and a movable section that can be easily separated. This segmentation is designed to allow quick connection and disconnection operations, reducing the time and effort required for assembly and disassembly while still enabling separate transportation of the sections to reduce transportation costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable section is designed to be stored within or alongside the fixed section when not in use. This nesting arrangement minimizes the space required for storage and facilitates easy assembly by simply extracting the movable section from its stored position, thereby reducing both assembly time and storage requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the conveyance unit is made larger to handle larger recording media, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capabilityVSAvoidconveyance unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the conveyance unit into a fixed section and a movable section, the complexity of managing a single large conveyance unit is reduced. Each section can be independently controlled and maintained, simplifying the overall system complexity while retaining the ability to handle various sizes of recording media through appropriate configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4516520A1Conveyance device and printing apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP4516520A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4516520A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4516520A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Disclosed is a conveyance device (20), including a conveyance unit (21) that conveys a recording medium (P) in a conveyance direction, the conveyance unit (21) including a main body (211) and a sub body (212) movably connected to the main body (211) along the conveyance direction. The length of the conveyance unit (21) in the conveyance direction is changeable by movement of the main body (211) and/or the sub body (212) along the conveyance direction.