Recording Apparatus Roller Pair Switching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in efficiently removing jammed sheets from the conveyance path, particularly when sheets are positioned in reverse paths, as the current mechanisms are not effectively adaptable to different sheet positions.
Innovation Solution
The proposed recording apparatus incorporates a switching unit with multiple movable members that can switch between states to either sandwich or separate the rollers of a roller pair, allowing for efficient conveyance and removal of sheets based on their position in the conveyance path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single slide member is used to separate rollers of the conveyance roller pair, then the structure is simple, but the sheet cannot be removed when jammed in the reverse path
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit is divided into multiple independent movable members (first movable member and second movable member), each capable of separating the rollers in specific directions. This segmentation allows the system to handle sheets jammed at different positions and orientations by activating only the necessary members, thereby improving sheet removal capability without requiring all members to be complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers of the conveyance roller pair are made dynamically separable through the movable members that can move in different directions. The first movable member moves in a first direction to separate the rollers, while the second movable member moves in a second direction (different from the first) to separate the rollers. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different jamming scenarios by changing the separation direction and timing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slide member operates irrespective of sheet position, then the operation is simple, but the sheet is hard to remove when in reverse path
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit detects the position of the jammed sheet through sensors (first sensor, second sensor, third sensor, fourth sensor) and provides feedback to determine which movable member(s) should be activated. The control unit determines the position of a jammed sheet based on detection results from multiple sensors arranged at different locations in the conveyance path, and controls the movable members accordingly to separate the rollers at the appropriate location and direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit with multiple movable members serves multiple functions: it can separate rollers in different directions, handle sheets jammed at different positions (conveyance path and reverse path), and adapt to various sheet orientations. The first movable member handles separation in the first direction for certain jamming scenarios, while the second movable member handles separation in the second direction for other scenarios, making the system universally applicable to different sheet jamming conditions.
3Productivity
If multiple movable members are used to separate rollers, then sheet removal efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet removal function is segmented into multiple independent movable members, each responsible for specific directions or positions. The control unit selectively activates only the necessary members based on sheet position detection, so that while multiple members exist, they do not all operate simultaneously, thereby improving sheet removal efficiency without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which movable members to activate based on real-time sheet position detection. Not all movable members are always active; the control unit determines the position of the jammed sheet and controls the movable members accordingly. This dynamic activation pattern allows the system to maintain high sheet removal efficiency while keeping the effective complexity manageable by only engaging the necessary members for each specific jamming scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus to record an image on a sheet includes a roller pair and a switching unit. The roller pair sandwiches the sheet between the roller pair to convey the sheet. The switching unit switches between a first state in which the roller pair sandwiches the sheet and a second state in which rollers of the roller pair are separated from each other. The switching unit includes a first movable member that is moved in a first direction so that the first state is switched to the second state, and includes a second movable member that is moved in a second direction different from the first direction so that the first state is switched to the second state.