Downward-Facing Conveyor Sheet Receptor for Jam Location

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image inspection apparatuses, identifying the location of a sheet that has fallen inside the apparatus during a jam is difficult due to the lack of a clear indication of the fallen sheet's position.

Innovation Solution

A conveying apparatus with a conveyor having a downward-facing conveyance surface and a receptor below it to catch and indicate the fallen sheet, along with optional supporters like guide plates to support the sheet during jam removal, facilitating easy identification and removal of the fallen sheet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fans are switched off for jam removal, then the sheet can be removed from the conveyance surface, but the sheet falls inside the apparatus making location identification difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejam removal operationVSAvoidfallen sheet location identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A sheet receiving portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the conveyance surface and the apparatus interior. This mediator catches fallen sheets and holds them in a visible location, solving the problem of sheet loss while maintaining the simple fan-off jam removal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet receiving portion automatically catches and holds fallen sheets without requiring additional user actions or complex mechanisms. The structure self-services by passively receiving sheets that fall during normal jam removal operations, eliminating the need for active intervention to prevent sheet loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a sheet receiving portion is added below the conveyor, then fallen sheet location identification becomes easy, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefallen sheet location identificationVSAvoidconveyor system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet receiving portion is designed as a simple, inexpensive structural addition rather than a complex mechanical system. It functions as a basic receiving structure that can be easily manufactured and integrated, representing a cost-effective solution that doesn't significantly increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor system is segmented into functional zones: the active conveyance surface and the passive sheet receiving portion below. This segmentation allows the receiving portion to be designed independently as a simple structural element rather than integrating complexity into the main conveyor mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11772922B2Conveying apparatus with conveyance surface facing downward

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 RISO KAGAKU CORP

AI summary

A conveying apparatus includes a conveyor and a conveyed object receptor. The conveyor includes a conveyance surface facing downward and configured to convey a conveyed object having a sheet-like shape. The conveyed object receptor is arranged below the conveyor and configured to receive the conveyed object having fallen from the conveyor.