Conveying Roller Helical Gear Layout for Paper Alignment Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional conveying apparatuses in recording devices, such as inkjet printers, experience a drop in printing quality due to the movement of the conveying roller in the rotary shaft direction when the rotating direction switches, causing the conveyed paper to shift.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a gear unit with a second and third helical gear that generates thrust forces in opposite directions to counteract the movement of the conveying roller, using a first helical gear that rotates with the roller, and includes a gear train with helical gears to reduce noise and improve durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a single helical gear is used to drive the conveying roller, then operation sounds are reduced and the roller is prevented from rattling, but the roller moves in the rotary shaft direction when rotation direction switches, causing paper misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation sounds and rattlingVSAvoidpaper alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses two helical gears (second and third helical gears) that generate thrust forces in opposite directions. These opposing thrust forces counterbalance each other, preventing the conveying roller from moving in the rotary shaft direction while still providing the noise-reducing benefits of helical gear engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Device complexity

If the conveying roller is allowed to move freely in the rotary shaft direction, then the mechanism is simpler, but the paper position shifts and printing quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoidprinting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs two helical gears generating opposing thrust forces to counterbalance each other, preventing conveying roller movement in the rotary shaft direction. This maintains printing quality without requiring additional complex restraint mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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

Prevents the conveying roller from moving in the rotary shaft direction, maintaining printing quality and preventing paper jams, while reducing noise and enhancing the durability of the mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

a gear unit that engages with the first helical gear and generates a thrust force to the conveying roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrust force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS12497255B2Conveying apparatus and recording device

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 CANON KK

AI summary

Provided is a conveying apparatus, including: a conveying roller that conveys a recording medium; a first helical gear that rotates integrally with the conveying roller; a gear unit that engages with the first helical gear and generates a thrust force to the conveying roller. The gear unit includes a second helical gear and a third helical gear, and a thrust force that the conveying roller receives from the second helical gear acts in an opposite direction of a thrust force that the conveying roller receives from the third helical gear.