Printer Switching Member Driven by Common Transport Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transporting apparatuses for recording devices, such as ink jet printers, face high manufacturing costs due to the expensive components required for switching mechanisms like solenoids and motors needed for switching transport paths after recording, which increases the overall cost of the device.
Innovation Solution
A medium transporting apparatus with a switching member that can switch between two transport paths using the motive power of a common drive source, eliminating the need for a dedicated drive source for the switching mechanism, and incorporating a switching mechanism that transitions between transmitting and non-transmitting states using a carriage's movement to prevent unexpected operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated drive source (solenoid or motor) is used for the ejection tray switching mechanism, then the switching function is reliable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive source function by making the transport unit's drive source also serve as the drive source for the switching mechanism. The drive source drives both the transport rollers and the switching member through a integrated transmission system, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated drive source for the ejection tray switching mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive source is designed to perform multiple functions: it drives the transport rollers for medium transportation and simultaneously drives the switching member for path switching. This multi-functional design allows one component to serve multiple purposes, reducing the total number of components and manufacturing cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a switching mechanism is added to switch between transport paths, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching member is designed to be movable between different positions (first position for first transport path, second position for second transport path). This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between different transport destinations by physically repositioning the switching member, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching member acts as an intermediary element that directs the medium to different transport paths. By positioning the switching member to constitute a portion of the path surface of either the first or second transport path, it mediates between the common transport path and the divergent output paths, enabling path switching without complex mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the switching member is made movable to switch paths, then the versatility improves, but the risk of unexpected operation and gear damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction clutch mechanism is designed to prevent unexpected switching operations by requiring a deliberate action to engage the clutch and transmit power to the switching member. The friction clutch normally remains disengaged, preventing accidental activation, and only transmits power when intentionally activated by the user, thereby preventing unexpected operation and potential gear damage.
Data Source
AI summary
In a printer, a medium transporting apparatus includes a straight path through which a medium on which recording has been performed with the recording head is output, an inversion path through which the recording medium on which recording has been performed with the recording head is output to an output destination different from an output destination of the straight path, a switching member provided downstream of the recording head in a medium transport direction and configured to switch between a first state in which the switching member constitutes a portion of the straight path and a second state in which the switching member constitutes a portion of the inversion path, a motor that drives a pair of transport rollers that transports the medium, and a switching mechanism that switches between a first state and a second state with motive power of the motor.