Integrated Spacer Roller Vibration Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transporting devices with driven rollers experience vibration issues due to spring member vibrations, leading to decreased feeding accuracy and abnormal noise, particularly when the vibration proof member is not properly aligned with the sheet feeding direction.
Innovation Solution
A medium transporting device configuration that includes a driving roller, a driven roller, a rotary shaft, a first pressing member, a second pressing member, and a spacer member with integrated spacers to suppress vibration, where the spacers are positioned to stabilize the rotary shaft and generate a force component that presses it in the medium transportation direction, and the pressing members are designed to ensure the driven roller is securely pressed against the driving roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate spacers are used between the rotary shaft and pressing members, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but vibration in the medium transportation direction is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate spacers into a single integrated spacer member that spans the rotary shaft. This merging of multiple components into one unified structure reduces the number of parts while effectively suppressing vibration in the medium transportation direction, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and vibration stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated spacer member extends in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, utilizing the third dimension to provide continuous support. This dimensional approach allows the spacer to suppress vibration along the medium transportation direction while maintaining structural integrity, achieving better vibration control without significantly complicating manufacturing.
2Manufacturing precision
If the driven roller is firmly pressed against the driving roller, then medium feeding accuracy is improved, but the load on the drive source increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force is applied locally at specific points along the rotary shaft through strategically positioned pressing members, rather than uniformly across the entire roller surface. This localized pressing approach maintains sufficient feeding accuracy while reducing the overall load on the drive source by minimizing unnecessary friction and resistance.
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 suppresses vibration of the rotary shaft, enhancing medium feeding accuracy and reducing abnormal noise by ensuring the driven roller is reliably pressed against the driving roller, even when transporting thick or thin media, thereby minimizing the load on the drive source and reducing heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
a surface of each of the first spacer and the second spacer, which presses the rotary shaft, may be formed as an inclined surface that generates a force component that presses the rotary shaft in a medium transportation direction in the bearing portion
Implementation Method 2
The driven roller is urged toward the driving roller by a spring in many cases
Implementation Method 3
a pair of rollers that nips and transports a recording sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transporting device includes a driving roller that transports a medium and that is driven to rotate, a driven roller that nips the medium between the driving roller and the driven roller and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the driving roller, a rotary shaft of the driven roller, a first pressing member that presses the rotary shaft in a direction in which the driven roller comes into contact with the driving roller, a second pressing member that presses the rotary shaft in a direction in which the driven roller comes into contact with the driving roller, and a spacer member that is integrally provided with a first spacer interposed between the rotary shaft and the first pressing member and a second spacer interposed between the rotary shaft and the second pressing member.