Recording Device Door Section for Jammed Media Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording devices, such as ink jet printers, face challenges in usability due to limited visibility and accessibility when removing jammed media, as the opening and closing section primarily focuses on opening the medium transport path without improving visibility or ease of removal.

Innovation Solution

The recording device incorporates a door section that opens and closes a side surface, forming part of the transport path. This door section includes a first roller pair and a second roller pair that maintain a nipped state, ensuring the medium is securely transported. When opened, the door section exposes at least a part of the path section between the roller pairs, improving visibility and ease of removing jammed media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the door section is opened to remove jammed medium, then accessibility is improved, but the medium may unintentionally fall out due to the opened path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for removing jammed mediumVSAvoidrisk of medium falling out
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transport path is selectively opened only in the local region between the first and second roller pairs, while other portions of the transport path remain closed. This localized opening provides accessibility for removing jammed medium without exposing the entire transport path, thereby preventing medium from falling out while still improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the path length between roller pairs is long, then medium transport stability is improved, but visibility of jammed medium deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedium transport stabilityVSAvoidvisibility of jammed medium
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The transport path is segmented into multiple sections: a closed section that maintains medium transport stability, and an opened section between the roller pairs that provides visibility for detecting jammed medium. This segmentation allows both stability and detectability to be achieved simultaneously in different portions of the transport path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the door section opens the entire transport path, then visibility of jammed medium is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of jammed mediumVSAvoiddoor section structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of opening the entire transport path, only a local portion between the roller pairs is opened. This localized approach improves visibility of jammed medium without requiring the door section to open the whole path, thereby reducing structural complexity while still achieving the visibility goal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enhances usability by improving visibility and accessibility of jammed media, allowing for easier removal and reducing the risk of media unintentionally falling out, thus addressing the limitations of existing recording devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first roller pair that nips and transports a medium, and a second roller pair that is located below or above the first roller pair and that nips and transports a medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4534297A1Recording device
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP4534297A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4534297A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4534297A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The recording device includes a door section that opens a part of the transport path by opening it and forms the part of the transport path and by closing it. The door section has a first path forming section that forms a part of the transport path, a first roller pair that nips and transports a medium, and a second roller pair that nips and transports a medium, the first roller pair and the second roller pair maintain a nipped state when the door section is opened or closed, when the door section is opened, at least a part of the path section between the first roller pair and the second roller pair is opened in the transport path, and a path length between the first roller pair and the second roller pair is shorter than a transport direction length of a smallest size of medium that is recordable.