Offset Driven Roller Nip Configuration for Document Feeding Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional document feeding devices experience instability in document feeding due to sudden changes in feeding load, leading to defective reading, and require complex structures with many parts, increasing costs and assembly challenges.

Innovation Solution

A document feeding device with a simplified structure where the driven rollers are supported by a common shaft orthogonal to the feeding direction, with at least one nip position offset downstream or upstream, reducing the number of parts and variations in roller positions, thereby stabilizing the feeding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nips are formed not in line with each other in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction (offset configuration), then the change in feeding load is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex and the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple independent rotational shafts and their supporting members are merged into a single common shaft that supports all driven rollers. This integration maintains the offset configuration for stable feeding while reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common shaft serves multiple functions: it supports all driven rollers, provides offset positioning for all nips simultaneously, and eliminates the need for multiple separate shafts and supporting members. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between achieving offset configuration and reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple independent rotational shafts and supporting members are provided for offset configuration, then feeding stability is improved, but the number of parts increases and assembly becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding stabilityVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple independent rotational shafts and their supporting members are merged into a single common shaft that supports all driven rollers. This integration maintains the offset configuration for stable feeding while reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple independent rotational shafts are provided for offset configuration, then feeding stability is improved, but variations in roller positions and distances increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding stabilityVSAvoidroller position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple independent rotational shafts and their supporting members are merged into a single common shaft that supports all driven rollers. This integration maintains the offset configuration for stable feeding while reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8523179B2Document device and image forming apparatus with offset driven roller

Publication Date: 2013.09.03 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A document feeding device includes a document reader, a drive roller and a plurality of driven rollers. The document reader is configured to read a document fed in a feeding direction. The drive roller is disposed upstream of the document reader in the feeding direction. The plurality of driven rollers is disposed opposite to the drive roller to form nips therebetween. The plurality of driven rollers is supported by one common shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction. A position of at least one nip formed by at least one of the plurality of driven rollers is offset downstream or upstream of other nips formed by other driven rollers.