Recording Apparatus Vertical Path Side-Register Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses with side-register mechanisms along horizontal paths face challenges in positioning the recording medium due to reactive forces from the medium's stiffness, leading to increased installation area requirements.
Innovation Solution
The recording apparatus employs a transporting mechanism with a guide surface and inclined feeding rollers to guide one side end of the recording medium along a curved and linear path configuration, allowing the side-register mechanism to be positioned along a straight-line path, thereby reducing the installation area by overlapping paths in the vertical direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the side-register mechanism is arranged along a curved path connecting between a horizontal path and a paper feeding hopper, then the positioning of the end portion in the width direction can be achieved, but the recording medium is subjected to a reactive force from its stiffness that resists the positioning force, making accurate positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the side-register mechanism from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement along the paper feeding path. By positioning the side-register mechanism in the vertical dimension rather than horizontally, the mechanism can apply positioning force to the side end of the paper without the reactive force from paper stiffness that occurs in curved horizontal paths. This dimensional change allows accurate positioning while avoiding the harmful reactive force.
2Manufacturing precision
If the side-register mechanism is arranged along a horizontal path between the curved path and the recording position, then positioning can be performed, but the linear distance and installation area of the apparatus become large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the side-register mechanism from a horizontal arrangement that requires extended linear distance to a vertical arrangement along the paper feeding path. By utilizing the vertical dimension for the paper feeding path and positioning the side-register mechanism vertically, the apparatus achieves accurate positioning without requiring large horizontal installation area, thus compacting the overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the side-register mechanism into the vertical paper feeding path structure, merging the positioning function with the paper transport path. This integration allows the side-register mechanism to be positioned along the same vertical path where paper is fed from the hopper, eliminating the need for separate horizontal positioning paths and reducing overall apparatus footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a recording apparatus including a first accommodating section, a transporting mechanism, a first path which includes a curved path portion, a second path which is extended linearly, a third path which includes a curved path portion, and a fourth path which is extended linearly, and a recording section. The transporting mechanism includes a guide surface extended linearly, which is configured to define the second path, and to guide one side end of the recording medium, and a pair of inclined feeding rollers which is configured to transport the recording medium with respect to the guide surface to bring the one side end of the recording medium to the guide surface. The recording section is arranged along the fourth path. The first accommodating section, the second path, and the fourth path are overlapped in a vertical direction.