Cover Lock Mechanism Retracts Arm to Prevent Media Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medium conveying apparatuses may damage media due to protruding objects sticking into the conveying path when the cover member closes, as existing designs do not effectively retract protrusions from the path.
Innovation Solution
A medium conveying apparatus with a cover that can open and close, an arm that protrudes into the conveying path and retracts, a lock mechanism to secure the cover, and an arm retracting mechanism that moves the arm out of the path when the lock shifts from a release state to a fixing state, preventing damage to media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cover member is designed to close for securing the conveying path, then the conveying path is secured and media can be conveyed safely, but a protruding object on the cover may stick into the medium and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding object (arm) is extracted from the conveying path when not in use. The arm is designed to protrude only when needed for skew correction and is retracted when the cover closes, removing the harmful element from the path to prevent media damage while maintaining conveying security
Solution Approach 2:
The arm is designed as a movable component that changes its position dynamically. It protrudes into the conveying path when skew correction is needed and retracts when the cover closes, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements to balance path security with media protection
2Adaptability or versatility
If the arm protrudes into the conveying path for skew correction, then skew correction function is provided, but the arm may stick into the medium and cause damage during cover closing
Solution Approach 1:
The arm retracting mechanism performs preliminary action by retracting the arm before the cover fully closes. The lock mechanism detects when the cover is in the closing state and triggers the arm to retract in advance, preventing the arm from sticking into the medium while maintaining the skew correction function when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism provides feedback on the cover's positional state to control the arm's position. When the cover is in the closing state, the lock mechanism triggers the arm to retract, creating a feedback-controlled system that prevents media damage while maintaining skew correction capability
3Reliability
If the cover is locked in the closing position, then the conveying path is secured, but the arm may remain protruding and damage the medium
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism merges the cover locking function with the arm retracting function into a single integrated system. When the cover is locked in the closing position, the lock mechanism simultaneously triggers the arm to retract, combining two functions to achieve both cover securing and media protection
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the cover closing action and the arm retraction. It detects the cover's closing state and mediates the arm's position accordingly, ensuring the arm retracts when the cover is secured to prevent media damage
Data Source
AI summary
A medium conveying apparatus includes a cover that is supported by a main body so as to be arranged in an opening position or a closing position, an arm that protrudes into a conveying path formed between the cover and the main body and is retracted from the conveying path, a lock mechanism that fixes the cover to the main body with the cover arranged in the closing position, and a mechanism that retracts the arm from the conveying path when the lock mechanism shifts from a first state in which the lock mechanism releases the cover from the main body to a second state in which the lock mechanism fixes the cover to the main body.