Printing Apparatus Intermediate Roller Electromagnetic Clutch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in reducing size due to the arrangement of imaging units and inverting rollers, which also hinder the capture of printed images on sheets being transported in reverse directions.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a transport roller, a printing unit, an intermediate roller equipped with an electromagnetic clutch mechanism, and an imaging device, where the intermediate roller reverses direction to invert the medium and allow imaging, while the transport roller and printing unit operate in forward directions during printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the imaging unit is disposed downstream of the head to capture printed images, then the imaging function is achieved, but the size of the printing apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging unit is repositioned from a downstream location to an upstream location on the transport path, utilizing the spatial dimension before the printing head. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the imaging unit to capture images of the medium before printing occurs, achieving the imaging function while maintaining a compact apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit performs imaging action before the printing head processes the medium. By capturing images upstream on the transport path, the system executes the imaging function in advance, allowing the printed medium to then pass through the printing head without requiring additional space for post-printing imaging.
2Device complexity
If the inverting roller always drives in forward rotation, then the structure is simple, but the sheet cannot be transported in reverse direction for imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The inverting roller's rotation direction is made dynamic and controllable rather than fixed. The roller can switch between forward rotation for normal transport and reverse rotation for returning the medium upstream to the imaging unit, providing the necessary versatility while maintaining relatively simple mechanical structure through bidirectional motor control.
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
This configuration allows for efficient printing and imaging on both sides of the medium, reduces the size of the printing apparatus, and enables accurate transport and inversion of the medium, overcoming previous limitations.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate roller includes an electromagnetic clutch mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes: a transport roller configured to transport a medium through a transport path; a printing unit configured to perform printing on the medium transported by the transport roller through the transport path; an intermediate roller configured to transport again, to the transport path, the medium transported through an inversion path in a reverse direction to a transport direction of the medium to invert a front surface and a back surface of the medium, the inversion path including a branching point where the inversion path branches from the transport path at an upstream side of the transport roller in the transport direction, the inversion path merging with the transport path again at an upstream side of the branching point in the transport direction; a device disposed in the transport path and between the transport roller and the intermediate roller; a first driving device configured to drive the transport roller; and a second driving device configured to drive the intermediate roller, in which the intermediate roller includes an electromagnetic clutch mechanism.