Curved Document Feed Support for Distortion-Free Image Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading devices experience temporary conveyance disturbances and image distortion due to sudden movement of the document trailing end out of the nip between the feeding rollers, leading to distortion of the read image.
Innovation Solution
An image reading device with a curved inversion path and a swingable outer roller, supported by a swing member, which includes a support portion to stabilize the trailing end of the medium, and a path forming member to inhibit sudden movement, allowing the support portion to adjust to medium thickness and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a curved inversion path is used to invert the medium, then the medium can be effectively inverted and conveyed, but the trailing end of the medium may suddenly move out of the inversion path causing temporary conveyance disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
A support portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the curved inversion path and the medium. This support portion provides lateral support to the trailing end of the medium, preventing it from suddenly moving out of the inversion path while allowing the curved path to maintain its inverting function. The support portion acts as a mediator that stabilizes the medium's position without disrupting the inversion mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the outer roller is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the conveying load increases when medium thickness or rigidity varies
Solution Approach 1:
The outer roller is transformed from a fixed position to a dynamic, swingable position supported by a swing member. This allows the outer roller to adjust its position dynamically in response to variations in medium thickness and rigidity. The swing member enables the outer roller to move closer to or farther from the inner roller, optimizing the conveying load for different medium conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the support portion protrudes further inward than the path forming member, then the trailing end of the medium is stabilized, but the clearance in the first path portion becomes small
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is designed with differentiated local qualities: it protrudes further inward than the path forming member in the lateral direction to provide stable support to the trailing end of the medium, while maintaining appropriate clearance in the conveying direction. This local differentiation allows the support portion to stabilize the medium without creating excessive constraints that would increase conveying load.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading device includes an inner roller and an outer roller in a curved path, and a path forming member that forms an outer side of a first path portion when a path portion extending downstream in a conveying direction from a nip position between the inner roller and the outer roller in the curved path is defined as the first path portion, wherein a support portion that supports a trailing end of a medium is provided on a lateral side of the outer roller in a swing member that rotatably supports the outer roller, and the support portion protrudes further inward of the curved path than the path forming member in the first path portion.