Image Recording Feed Tray with Movable Single-Roller Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image recording apparatuses with separate rollers for rolled and cut papers occupy a larger space due to the need for separate feeding paths for each type of paper.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a feed tray that accommodates both rolled and cut papers using a single feed roller, where the roller is movable between contact and separation positions, and a support member is movable between covering and separation positions to share a common feeding path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate rollers are used for rolled paper and cut papers, then each paper type can be fed reliably, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the feeding functions for rolled paper and cut papers into a single feed roller. The feed roller can contact both the unrolled sheet from the rolled body (via contact surface) and the stacked sheet media (via support member), eliminating the need for separate rollers and reducing apparatus size while maintaining feeding reliability for both paper types
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roller is designed to be movable between contact and separation positions, and the support member is movable between first and second positions. This dynamic configuration allows the single feed roller to adaptively serve both rolled paper and cut paper feeding paths, enabling space reduction without sacrificing feeding reliability
2Area of stationary object
If a single feed roller is used for both rolled and cut papers, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller and support member are designed with movable capabilities between specific positions. The feed roller moves between contact and separation positions, while the support member moves between first and second positions. This dynamic design enables a single feed roller to handle both rolled and cut papers through position-based function switching, reducing apparatus size while managing complexity through controlled movement mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The single feed roller is designed to perform multiple functions: feeding unrolled sheets from rolled bodies when in contact with the contact surface, and feeding stacked sheet media when the support member is in the second position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated rollers, decreasing apparatus size while the movable design manages the inherent complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes: a feed tray; a feed roller configured to feed a sheet medium accommodated in the feed tray; and a recording unit. The feed tray includes: a first accommodating part configured to accommodate a rolled body formed by rolling the sheet medium; a second accommodating part configured to accommodate a plurality of sheet media in a stacked state, each of the sheet media being the sheet medium; a contact surface configured to contact, from below, the sheet medium unrolled from the rolled body accommodated in the first accommodating part; and a support member having a support surface configured to support the sheet media accommodated in the second accommodating part. The feed roller is movable between a contact position at which the feed roller contacts the contact surface and a separation position at which the feed roller is away from the contact surface.