Printing Apparatus Delay Mechanism for Discharge Tray Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing printing apparatuses with discharge tray delay mechanisms face issues where the discharge tray may open late or suddenly, causing paper jams and noise due to accumulated delay lengths, especially when errors like 'Out of Paper' occur, leading to inappropriate timing and rapid opening.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a delay mechanism that accumulates and cancels delay lengths by synchronizing the discharging roller's rotation with the conveying motor, ensuring the discharge tray opens at the correct timing after error correction, using a system of ring-like members and a discharging roller cam to manage rotational forces and prevent sudden openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a delay mechanism is used to open the discharge tray after printing starts, then the tray can remain closed during printing to reduce external size and prevent dust entry, but the delay mechanism accumulates delay length during errors causing the tray to open late or suddenly
Solution Approach 1:
The delay mechanism is segmented into multiple ring-like members (first, second, third ring-like members) that can independently rotate and accumulate delay. This segmentation allows the mechanism to handle delay accumulation in discrete units, preventing overwhelming delay buildup and enabling more precise control over the discharge tray opening timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The delay mechanism performs preliminary action by accumulating delay length during normal operation and error states before the actual printing operation. The ring-like members rotate in advance to build up the necessary delay, ensuring that when printing starts, the discharge tray opens at the correct timing without sudden movements or paper jams.
2Device complexity
If the same drive source is used for conveying roller and discharging roller to reduce size and manufacturing cost, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but delay accumulation during reverse rotation of conveying roller causes inappropriate discharge tray opening timing
Solution Approach 1:
The delay mechanism acts as an intermediary between the conveying roller and discharging roller. When the conveying roller reverses rotation during error correction, the delay mechanism absorbs the reverse rotation through its ring-like members without transmitting it directly to the discharging roller. This mediation prevents delay accumulation from affecting the discharge tray opening timing while maintaining the benefit of using the same drive source.
3Reliability
If the discharge tray opens after accumulated delay, then the delay mechanism can handle error recovery, but the discharged sheet may be bent by striking the closed tray and the tray opens suddenly causing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The delay mechanism employs dynamic control through multiple ring-like members that can rotate at different speeds and directions. During error recovery, the mechanism dynamically adjusts the delay accumulation rate. When printing resumes, the ring-like members rotate in a controlled manner to open the discharge tray gradually rather than suddenly, preventing sheet bending and reducing noise while maintaining error recovery capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a delay mechanism that can transmit, with a delay, the rotational force of a discharge roller to a discharge tray. When the reverse rotation of the discharging roller has been begun, the delay mechanism accumulates the length of the delay, or, when the forward rotation of the discharge roller is performed for a longer period than the accumulated length of the delay, opens the discharge tray. When the feeding of a sheet is not performed during a sheet feeding operation accompanied by the reverse rotation of the discharging roller, the discharging roller is rotated forward to cancel out the length of the delay accumulated in the delay mechanism.