Dual Motor Conveyance Mechanism for High-Speed Duplex Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image recording apparatuses face limitations in maximizing double-sided recording speed due to the shared drive motor for conveying rollers, leading to potential discrepancies in rotation speed and conveying amounts, which can disrupt image quality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a power transmission mechanism that can switch between states to independently control the first and second conveying rollers, allowing for synchronized rotation and precise conveyance, ensuring consistent image recording on both sides of the sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive motor is used to drive both the first and second conveying rollers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and recording speed cannot be maximized due to restricted drive timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive system into two independent drive motors: a first drive motor for the first conveying roller and a second drive motor for the second conveying roller. This segmentation allows each roller to be controlled independently, enabling simultaneous conveyance of multiple sheets and maximizing recording speed without the timing restrictions of a shared motor system.
2Productivity
If separate drive motors are provided for the first and second conveying rollers to enable independent control and simultaneous process, then the productivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difference in rotation speed between motors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the controller monitors the rotation amounts of both drive motors and adjusts their operation to ensure that the first and second conveying rollers convey sheets by substantially the same amount. This feedback control compensates for any rotation speed differences between the two motors, maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling high-speed simultaneous processing.
3Ease of operation
If separate drive motors are used for the first and second conveying rollers, then the ease of operation is improved for simultaneous process, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential image disturbance from rotation speed differences
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors and adjusts the rotation amounts of the two drive motors to ensure synchronized conveyance. This feedback control prevents image disturbance by maintaining consistent conveyance amounts from both rollers, thereby preserving image quality reliability while enabling easy simultaneous operation of multiple sheets.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes first and second conveying passages, a recording portion for recording images, first and second conveying rollers, first and second motors, a power transmission mechanism switchable between a first state and a second state, and a controller. In the first state of the mechanism, the controller drives the first motor to rotate the first and second conveying rollers, thereby conveying a recording medium along the first conveying passage in a first conveying direction. During this conveyance, the controller controls the recording portion to record an image on one surface of the recording medium. Then, the controller switches the mechanism from the first state to the second state, and drives the second motor in the second state of the mechanism to rotate the second conveying roller independently of the first conveying roller, thereby conveying the recording medium along the second conveying passage in a second conveying direction.