Paper Transport Roller Pressure Control for Registration Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face transport errors of recording media to the transfer part due to constant contact pressure and transport path width that do not accommodate the type or grammage of the recording medium, leading to defects in image quality.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a position changing mechanism that adjusts the guide parts and contact pressure between rollers based on the type and grammage of the recording medium, using a single pressure changing mechanism with spring members to ensure accurate alignment and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If constant contact pressure and transport path width are used for all recording medium types, then device complexity is reduced, but transport precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide parts are made movable rather than fixed, allowing their positions to be dynamically adjusted according to the type of recording medium being transported. This enables the transport path width to vary adaptively, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and precise transport by making the structure adaptable rather than complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the transport system (guide part positions and transport path width) based on the recording medium type. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves high transport precision for different media without requiring multiple dedicated transport paths, thus maintaining structural simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If guide part positions and contact pressure are optimized for each recording medium type, then transport precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable guide parts serve multiple functions: they guide different types of recording media (thick paper, thin paper, transparent sheets) and simultaneously adjust the transport path width and contact pressure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated structures for each media type, achieving optimization without proportional increase in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of guide part positions and contact pressure through movable components rather than static, dedicated structures for each media type. This dynamic approach allows a single versatile structure to handle multiple media types with optimal parameters, avoiding the complexity of multiple fixed structures.
3Device complexity
If constant transport path width is used, then device complexity is reduced, but transport error increases for different recording medium types
Solution Approach 1:
The guide parts are designed to move dynamically to adjust the transport path width according to the recording medium type. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to maintain simple overall structure while achieving variable path width for precise transport of different media.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements variable transport path width by changing the position parameter of the guide parts. This parameter adjustment allows optimal path width for each media type (thick paper, thin paper, transparent sheets) without requiring multiple fixed paths, thus reducing complexity while improving transport accuracy.
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
Suppresses transport errors and image quality defects by optimizing guide part positions and contact pressure for different types of paper, reducing component count, and minimizing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure changing mechanism that changes a contact pressure between the pair of transport rollers in conjunction with the first guide part that has been moved by the position changing mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport device includes: a pair of registration rollers that transport a recording medium to a transfer part at a predetermined timing; a pair of transport rollers that are provided upstream of the pair of registration rollers in a recording-medium transport direction and transport the recording medium toward the pair of registration rollers that are not rotated; a first guide part that is provided downstream of the pair of transport rollers in the recording-medium transport direction and guides the recording medium to the pair of registration rollers; a second guide part that is provided downstream of the pair of registration rollers in the recording-medium transport direction and guides the recording medium to the transfer part; a position changing mechanism that changes positions of the first guide part and the second guide part according to a type of the recording medium; and a pressure changing mechanism that changes a contact pressure between the pair of transport rollers in conjunction with the first guide part that has been moved by the position changing mechanism.