Pivoting Upper Surface Guide for Jam Removal in Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, the pivoting mechanism of the upper surface guide is hindered by the transport roller pair when a structure with a gap between the upper and lower surface guides is employed, leading to difficulties in eliminating jams or sticking issues between these guides.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus design featuring a transport roller pair, a printing unit, an arm unit supporting the driven roller, a lower surface guide, an upper surface guide that pivots away from the lower guide, and an urging member to facilitate easy jam removal, allowing the upper surface guide to pivot and separate from the lower guide, thereby guiding the printing medium effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upper surface guide is disposed between the transport roller pair with a pivoting mechanism, then the printing medium can be guided effectively, but the pivoting is hindered by the transport roller pair when jams occur
Solution Approach 1:
The upper surface guide is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can pivot independently. The movable portion is positioned downstream of the transport roller pair, allowing it to pivot away from the lower surface guide to eliminate jams without being hindered by the transport rollers, while the fixed portion maintains structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting motion of the upper surface guide is designed to occur in a direction away from the lower surface guide, utilizing vertical space above the transport path. This dimensional approach allows the guide to clear jams by creating separation in the vertical dimension rather than requiring lateral movement that would conflict with the transport roller pair
2Ease of operation
If the upper surface guide pivots away from the lower surface guide to eliminate jams, then jam removal is facilitated, but the guiding function may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The upper surface guide employs a dynamic pivoting mechanism that allows it to change its position between a guiding state (facing the lower surface guide) and a jam-clearing state (pivoted away). This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt to different operational conditions, maintaining guiding reliability during normal operation while facilitating easy jam removal when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting mechanism is designed to be operable by the user without requiring disassembly or complex tools. The upper surface guide can be manually pivoted away from the lower surface guide to eliminate jams, and then automatically or manually returned to its guiding position, enabling self-service maintenance by the end user
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a transport roller pair configured to transport a printing medium in a transport direction, an arm unit being configured to support the driven roller, a lower surface guide being configured to support the printing medium from below, an upper surface guide disposed at a position facing the lower surface guide and spaced apart from the lower surface guide, the upper surface guide being configured to form, between the upper surface guide and the lower surface guide, a transport path of the printing medium, and an upper surface guide pivoting shaft configured to pivotably support the upper surface guide, wherein an end portion of the upper surface guide located downstream in the transport direction is located below the arm unit, and the upper surface guide is configured to pivot in a direction away from the lower surface guide.