Medium Transport Roller Structure for Wrinkle and Skew Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transport devices face issues with uneven transport force distribution leading to wrinkles and skewing, particularly with low-rigidity media like fabric, due to the use of multiple rollers that are not perfectly aligned, causing variations in transport direction.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport device with a single main roller and multiple sub-rollers arranged at varying distances, where the intermediate section is positioned downstream, combined with an arched main roller design and tension application, to stabilize and flatten wrinkles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple rollers are used to constitute the transport section, then the cost is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but the transport force becomes uneven and causes skew and wrinkles
Solution Approach 1:
The main roller is designed with a specific curvature radius R1, and the intermediate support position is determined by the curvature radius R2 (where R2 > R1). This curvature-based design ensures that the roller maintains proper alignment and distributes transport force evenly, preventing skew and wrinkles while keeping the structure manufacturable with standard roller components.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate support is introduced between the upstream support and downstream support to provide additional stabilization. This intermediate support prevents the main roller from sagging or misaligning, ensuring consistent transport force distribution across multiple roller sections without requiring perfect manufacturing tolerances.
2Device complexity
If multiple rollers are used to constitute the transport section, then the device complexity is reduced, but variation in transport direction occurs causing skew
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate support acts as a mediator that stabilizes the main roller's position and orientation. By providing an additional support point at a specific distance from the ends, it prevents the roller from shifting or tilting, ensuring that the transport direction remains consistent across all roller sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The support positions are defined by specific geometric parameters (curvature radii R1 and R2) rather than arbitrary placements. This parameter-based design ensures that the roller maintains proper alignment and transport direction stability while allowing for standard manufacturing tolerances.
3Device complexity
If the rollers are arranged in a straight line, then the structure is simple, but the intermediate section sags causing wrinkles in low-rigidity media
Solution Approach 1:
The main roller is designed with a specific curvature radius R1, creating an arched configuration rather than a straight line. This curvature prevents the intermediate section from sagging under its own weight or the weight of the medium, eliminating the cause of wrinkles in low-rigidity materials like fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate support provides counterbalancing support to the arched roller structure, preventing sagging in the intermediate section. This support counteracts the gravitational force and prevents the roller from deforming, thereby preventing wrinkles in the transported medium.
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
Effectively suppresses wrinkles and skewing in low-rigidity media by ensuring consistent transport force direction and preventing roller sagging, enabling smooth processing and recording on fabrics.
Implementation Method 1
a main roller that is formed of a single body and that applies a feeding force to the medium in a transport direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of sub rollers arranged at distances from each other along a longitudinal direction of the main roller, the sub rollers pairing with the main roller to rotate while nipping the medium therebetween
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A medium transport device 6 includes a feed out section 2 that feeds out a medium 3 that is wound in a roll shape, a main roller 8, formed of a single body that applies a feed force to the medium in the transport direction F, a plurality of sub rollers 9 arranged at a distance D from each other along the longitudinal direction of the main roller 8, wherein the sub roller 9 that rotates while nipping the medium with the pair with the main roller 8. the intermediate section 17 in the longitudinal direction of the main roller 8 is disposed at a downstream position in the transport direction F with respect to the end sections 23 and 24.