Correction Roller Skew Alignment Without Electromagnetic Clutches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document conveying apparatuses that correct document skew often require expensive electromagnetic clutches, increasing the cost of the apparatus and necessitating the development of low-cost alternatives.
Innovation Solution
A document conveying apparatus that corrects skew using a correction roller with contact pieces and a biasing portion to rotate based on document conveying force, regulated by a regulating portion, eliminating the need for an electromagnetic clutch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a registration roller pair is used to correct document skew, then document skew correction is achieved, but the apparatus requires expensive electromagnetic clutches and complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the electromagnetic clutch component from the system. Instead of using electromagnetic clutches to control the registration roller pair, the invention uses a simpler mechanical biasing portion that allows the correction roller to rotate freely when needed, removing the complex electromagnetic control mechanism while maintaining skew correction functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The correction roller is designed to rotate automatically based on the document conveying force applied to it. The biasing portion allows the roller to rotate in the direction that corrects skew without requiring external electromagnetic control. The system uses the document's own conveying force to drive the correction mechanism, eliminating the need for complex controlled actuators
2Ease of operation
If electromagnetic clutches are used to control the registration roller pair, then precise control of roller rotation is achieved, but the apparatus cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive electromagnetic clutches with a simpler, lower-cost mechanical biasing portion. The biasing portion uses basic mechanical elements that are cheaper to manufacture and replace, achieving the same functional outcome of controlling roller rotation without the high cost of electromagnetic components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the electromagnetic control system with a purely mechanical biasing portion. Instead of using electromagnetic fields to control roller rotation, the system uses mechanical biasing forces that allow the roller to rotate freely in the skew correction direction, eliminating the need for expensive electromagnetic actuators while maintaining operational control
3Productivity
If the correction roller rotates continuously to convey documents, then document conveyance is maintained, but skew correction cannot be applied when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The correction roller is designed with dynamic rotation characteristics that allow it to rotate freely in the skew correction direction when documents require correction, while maintaining the ability to rotate in the conveying direction for continuous document handling. The biasing portion enables this dynamic behavior by allowing rotation based on applied forces rather than restricting it to fixed directions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the rotation parameter of the correction roller based on the operational requirement. When skew correction is needed, the roller rotates in the correction direction due to document conveying force. When conveyance is the priority, the roller rotates in the conveying direction. The biasing portion enables this parameter change by allowing flexible rotation rather than fixed rotational constraints
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 apparatus effectively corrects document skew without an electromagnetic clutch, reducing costs and ensuring smooth document conveyance, while allowing for precise timing and retraction of the correction mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing portion that biases the correction roller in a rotational direction in which the correction roller is rotated by the document conveying force
Implementation Method 2
each of the contact portions being capable of coming in contact with a leading edge of a document conveyed on the conveying path
Data Source
AI summary
A document conveying apparatus includes a correction roller, a correction portion, a biasing portion, and a regulating portion. The correction roller has a rotating shaft, and a pair of contact portions arranged spaced apart on the rotating shaft, each including contact pieces extending in radial directions from the same circumferential positions, and each capable of coming in contact with a leading edge of a document conveyed on a conveying path. The correction portion allows the correction roller to rotate only when the leading edge of the document comes in contact with both of the pair of contact portions and the skew of the document is corrected. The biasing portion biases the correction roller in a rotational direction of the correction roller. The regulating portion regulates rotation of the correction roller biased by the biasing portion so as to retract the contact pieces of the contact portions from the conveying path.