Dual Roller Transport Mechanism for Skew Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image reading apparatuses face transport failures due to changes in medium thickness, as the transport force decreases when the medium is sandwiched between rollers, leading to potential transport failures, especially when the medium thickness changes from thin to thick.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus includes a configuration with a first and second drive roller pair, where the second drive roller is rotated to transmit its driving force directly to the second driven roller, and a transmission unit that transmits rotational force from one driven roller to another, increasing the transport force and preventing failures by ensuring consistent medium transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive roller pair is used to transport the medium, then the device complexity is reduced, but the transport reliability deteriorates when medium thickness changes
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into two independent drive roller pairs (first and second drive roller pairs) that operate in sequence. Each roller pair can independently transport the medium, providing redundancy and ensuring reliable transport even when medium thickness varies. This segmentation allows the system to maintain transport reliability without requiring a complex single-system design.
2Ease of operation
If the medium is sandwiched between drive roller and driven roller, then the transport control is improved, but the transport force decreases leading to transport failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of driving and transporting by making the driven roller also function as a drive roller. The second drive roller is configured to directly drive the second driven roller, merging the driving function into the transport path. This ensures sufficient transport force is applied to thick media while maintaining the sandwich configuration for transport control.
3Reliability
If traditional gear transmission is used to transmit rotational force between driven rollers, then the force transmission is reliable, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gear transmission system with a belt transmission system. The belt transmission unit connects the first driven roller and the second driven roller, providing reliable rotational force transmission while occupying significantly less space than gear mechanisms. This substitution maintains force transmission reliability while reducing the overall apparatus size.
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
This configuration stabilizes medium transport by increasing the transport force, preventing failures even when the medium thickness changes, and reduces the size and component count of the apparatus by using belts for force transmission instead of large gears.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission unit configured to transmit a rotational force from one of the first driven roller and the second driven roller to another of the first driven roller and the second driven roller
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner includes the following features. A first driven roller sandwiches a document together with a first drive roller and is capable of rotating in a driven manner. A second driven roller sandwiches a document together with a second drive roller and is capable of rotating in a driven manner. A driving unit rotationally drives the first drive roller and the second drive roller. A transmission unit transmits a rotational force from one of the first driven roller and the second driven roller to another of the first driven roller and the second driven roller.