Medium Conveying Apparatus Multi-Feed Recovery Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium conveying apparatuses require manual intervention to resolve multi-feed issues, which decreases user convenience and efficiency, as they lack automated mechanisms to reset media to the tray when multi-feed occurs.
Innovation Solution
A medium conveying apparatus equipped with a feed roller, a brake roller, and a dual transmission mechanism using torque limiters to reverse the direction of the brake roller and feed roller when multi-feed is detected, allowing for automatic resetting of media to the tray without additional torque control devices, thus enhancing user convenience and reducing costs, size, and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a medium conveying apparatus automatically restores media to a medium tray when multi-feed occurs, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects multi-feed conditions and restores media to the tray without requiring user intervention. The processor monitors feed roller rotation and autonomously controls the restoration process, making the system self-servicing rather than requiring manual user action.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roller serves multiple functions: it feeds media during normal operation and also restores media to the tray during multi-feed recovery. By making the feed roller reversible, the system eliminates the need for separate restoration mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining automatic restoration capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional torque control devices are added to control brake roller rotation, then rotation control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of controlling the brake roller to rotate in the opposite direction during restoration, the system inverts the approach by making the feed roller rotate in reverse to pull the media back to the tray. This inversion eliminates the need for complex torque control on the brake roller while achieving the same restoration effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the torque control function from the brake roller system and relocates it to the feed roller system. By removing the requirement for precise torque control on the brake roller and using the feed roller's inherent rotational control capability instead, the system reduces device complexity while maintaining functional effectiveness.
3Extent of automation
If the feed roller is made reversible to enable automatic media restoration, then automation capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential media damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary control by monitoring the rotation of the feed roller and detecting multi-feed conditions before they cause significant media damage. By detecting the abnormal rotation pattern early, the system can initiate restoration procedures promptly, preventing further media entanglement or damage while maintaining automation.
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
The apparatus effectively automates the resetting of media during multi-feed events, improving user convenience and operational efficiency by using a dual transmission mechanism with torque limiters to reverse the rollers, ensuring media are properly aligned and reducing the likelihood of damage during refeeding.
Implementation Method 1
a first transmission mechanism to transmit the driving force to the brake roller through a first torque limiter, a torque limit value of the first torque limiter being a first limit value
Data Source
AI summary
A medium conveying apparatus includes a feed roller, a brake roller, a motor to generate a driving force, a first transmission mechanism to transmit the driving force to the brake roller through a first torque limiter, to rotate the brake roller in a direction opposite to a medium feeding direction, a second transmission mechanism to transmit the driving force to the brake roller through a second torque limiter, bypassing the first torque limiter, to rotate the brake roller in the direction opposite to the medium feeding direction, and a processor to detect media multi-feed, and perform control in such a way as to transmit the driving force to the brake roller by the second transmission mechanism and also cause the feed roller to be driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the medium feeding direction by the brake roller, when the media multi-feed is detected.