Printing Device Discharge Tray Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutter devices struggle to maintain alignment of cut-off portions when cutting sheets of fixed sizes, as the downstream portion of the sheet drops by its own weight onto the discharge tray, potentially causing misalignment with the upstream portion.
Innovation Solution
A printing device configuration with a pair of conveyor rollers, a cutter unit, and a discharge tray, where the discharge tray is positioned to satisfy specific gravitational and conveying direction distances to ensure proper alignment of cut-off portions, and the controller manages the cutting and conveying processes to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the discharge tray is positioned below the cutter unit to receive cut portions, then the cutting function is achieved, but the alignment between cut-off portions deteriorates due to gravitational dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge tray is positioned not directly below the cutter unit but downstream and below, creating a spatial arrangement where the tray receives portions in the conveying direction rather than purely gravitational drop. This dimensional adjustment allows the downstream portion to be conveyed and placed on top of the upstream portion, achieving both cutting function and alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The upstream portion is discharged onto the discharge tray first, establishing a base position. Then the downstream portion is conveyed and deliberately placed on top of the upstream portion. This sequential preliminary action ensures proper alignment before final stacking occurs
2Device complexity
If the downstream portion is allowed to drop by its own weight onto the discharge tray, then the discharge process is simplified, but misalignment with the upstream portion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyer rollers act as an intermediary mechanism between the cutter unit and the discharge tray. Instead of direct gravitational dropping, the conveyer rollers transport the downstream portion to the discharge tray, enabling controlled placement on top of the upstream portion while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static gravitational dropping to dynamic conveyed movement. The downstream portion is actively conveyed by the conveyer rollers to the discharge tray, allowing controlled placement that maintains alignment while preserving the simplicity of the discharge process
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
The solution effectively improves the alignment quality of cut-off portions by positioning the discharge tray to prevent the second sheet from being placed below the first sheet, ensuring accurate placement and alignment post-cutting.
Implementation Method 1
H1 represents a distance in a gravitational direction between the nipping position and the mounting surface of the discharge tray
Implementation Method 2
a pair of conveyer rollers configured to nip a printing medium at a nipping position and convey the printing medium in a conveying direction
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device includes: a pair of conveyer rollers for nipping a printing medium at a nipping position and conveying the printing medium in a conveying direction; a cutter unit positioned downstream of the conveyer rollers; a discharge tray positioned downstream of and below the cutter unit; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: (a) cutting the printing medium by the cutter unit into first and second printing mediums; and (b) discharging the second conveying medium on top of the first printing medium on the discharge tray. The discharge tray is positioned to satisfy a formula of H1>4×10−7×D14, where H1 represents a distance in a gravitational direction between the nipping position and a mounting surface of the discharge tray; and D1 represents a distance in the conveying direction between the nipping position and a downstream end of the cutter unit.