Image Reading Apparatus Conveyance Speed Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image reading apparatuses face challenges in conveying small and hard sheets, leading to potential reading failures due to changes in conveyance speed and frictional resistance, which existing solutions either increase cost or size, or complicate the apparatus structure.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a configuration with a supporting portion, a feeding portion, a curved conveyance path, and a conveyance unit with a first and second driving roller, connected by a driving source, pulleys, and belts to maintain constant rotational speed and reduce frictional resistance changes, allowing for stable sheet conveyance without increasing cost or size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single conveyance roller pair conveys a small and hard sheet, then the sheet can be conveyed through the apparatus, but the conveyance load increases due to frictional resistance, causing conveyance speed changes and reading failures
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance path is divided into multiple segments with different curvature characteristics. Small and hard sheets are conveyed through a straight conveyance path with minimal curvature, while ordinary sheets use a curved conveyance path. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for specific sheet types, reducing frictional resistance for small sheets and preventing reading failures.
2Reliability
If the conveyance path is made straight to reduce frictional resistance, then conveyance speed stability improves, but the apparatus size increases when equipped with multiple reading units
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus dynamically switches between different conveyance paths based on sheet type detection. A sheet type discrimination unit identifies whether the sheet is small and hard or ordinary, and the system selectively activates either the straight conveyance path or the curved conveyance path. This dynamic adaptation allows the compact apparatus to optimize conveyance for different sheet types without requiring both paths to be permanently configured.
3Adaptability or versatility
If path switching mechanism is added to handle different sheet types, then conveyance performance improves, but the apparatus structure becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing a complex global path switching mechanism, the invention creates locally optimized conveyance paths with distinct curvature characteristics. The straight conveyance path is designed specifically for small and hard sheets, while the curved path serves ordinary sheets. This local optimization approach achieves sheet-type-specific performance without requiring complex switching mechanisms, thereby reducing apparatus complexity and cost.
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 effectively reduces image reading failures by stabilizing conveyance speed and minimizing frictional resistance changes, thereby enhancing the reliability of image reading without increasing the apparatus's cost or size.
Implementation Method 1
a driving belt wound around the output pulley and the input pulley
Implementation Method 2
a transmission belt wound around the first pulley and the second pulley
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a supporting portion, a feeding portion, a curved conveyance path, a conveyance unit, an image reading unit, a driving source, an output pulley, an input pulley, a first pulley, a second pulley, a driving belt, and a transmission belt. The image reading unit is configured to read an image on a first surface at a location between the first driving roller and the second driving roller in a sheet conveyance direction. The output pulley is fixed to an output shaft of the driving source. The input pulley is fixed to the second driving roller. The first pulley is fixed to the first driving roller. The second pulley is fixed to the second driving roller. The driving belt is wound around the output pulley and the input pulley. The transmission belt is wound around the first pulley and the second pulley.