Drive-Force Transmission Mechanism for Sheet Jamming Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printers face issues with sheet jamming during cleaning operations due to the drive-force-transmission mechanism, which causes sheets to be fed into the printer in unintended directions, leading to increased jamming risks, especially when sheets are inserted manually during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a sheet-feed mechanism, a sheet-detect portion, and a drive-force transmitting mechanism that controls the direction of sheet feeding and sucking operations to prevent sheet jamming by ensuring sheets are only fed in the intended direction, using a controller to manage the sheet-feed and sucking mechanisms to maintain proper alignment and prevent reverse feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common drive source is used to transmit drive force to both the maintenance unit and sheet-feed roller, then device complexity is reduced, but sheet jamming occurs during cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic drive-force transmission mechanism that changes the transmission path based on the carriage position. When the carriage is at the maintenance unit position, drive force is transmitted to the sucking mechanism for cleaning operations. When the carriage is at the image recording position, drive force is transmitted to the sheet-feed roller for normal printing operations. This dynamic switching prevents sheet jamming while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive-force transmission system is segmented into different transmission paths for different operational modes. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission path to the sucking mechanism and a second transmission path to the sheet-feed roller, allowing independent control of each function based on carriage position, thereby preventing interference between cleaning and sheet feeding operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sheet-feed roller is driven during cleaning operations, then the sheet feeding path remains active, but sheets are fed in unintended directions causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the drive-force transmission path based on carriage position. During cleaning operations (when carriage is at the maintenance unit), the transmission path to the sheet-feed roller is disconnected, preventing unintended sheet feeding. During normal printing operations (when carriage is at the image recording position), the transmission path to the sheet-feed roller is activated, allowing normal sheet feeding functionality.
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 solution effectively prevents sheet jamming during cleaning operations by ensuring sheets are fed and discharged correctly, reducing the risk of misalignment and jamming, even when sheets are inserted manually, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a sucking mechanism configured to perform a sucking operation in which the sucking mechanism sucks air or liquid from an inside of the cap in a state in which the sucking mechanism is communicated with the cap
Implementation Method 2
a drive source configured to generate a drive force for driving the sheet-feed mechanism and the sucking mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus including: a sheet-feed mechanism; a sheet-detect portion; an image recording portion having a nozzle face; a cap for covering the nozzle face; a sucking mechanism; a drive source which generates a drive force; a drive-force transmitting mechanism which transmits one of a forward-direction drive force and a reverse-direction drive force to the sheet-feed mechanism and the sucking mechanism respectively for feeding of the sheet in one direction by the sheet-feed mechanism and an operation of the sucking mechanism, and which transmits the other thereof to the sheet-feed mechanism for feeding of the sheet in another direction by the sheet-feed mechanism; and a controller which controls the drive source such that the sheet is fed in the one direction and discharged without the feeding in said other direction by the sheet-feed mechanism after the sheet-detect portion has detected the sheet during the operation of the sucking mechanism.