Recording Apparatus Load Detection Mechanism for Warped Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses struggle to accurately detect the height of loaded media when the center portion of the ejected medium protrudes upward, leading to improper loading and potential collisions or buckling issues.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a load detection mechanism comprising a first contact member, a second contact member, a detection auxiliary member, and a detection unit, which operate in conjunction to detect the displacement of the medium, allowing for proper loading and preventing collisions by accurately measuring the height of media with both downward and upward convex warps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single detection unit is used to detect medium height, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates when the medium center protrudes upward
Solution Approach 1:
The detection mechanism is segmented into multiple independent contact members (first contact member at upstream position, second contact member at downstream position) that work together to detect medium height. This segmentation allows the system to accurately detect both downward and upward convex warps by comparing displacements at different positions, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and precise measurement.
2Loss of time
If the detection unit is positioned upstream, then the detection timing is early, but the measurement precision deteriorates when the medium center rises at downstream positions
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system transitions from single-point detection to multi-point detection along the conveyance direction. By placing contact members at different positions (upstream and downstream), the system captures height information at multiple locations, enabling accurate detection of medium warps regardless of whether the center protrudes upward or downward, thus maintaining measurement precision while enabling early detection.
3Device complexity
If no load detection mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to improper loading and medium collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The load detection mechanism provides real-time feedback on medium height and warp conditions to the control system. The contact members detect medium position, and this information is used to control the sheet ejection unit, preventing improper loading and medium collisions. This feedback loop ensures reliable operation while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to perform recording on a medium, a sheet ejection unit configured to eject the medium after the recording, a loading unit configured to load the ejected medium, a first contact member configured to make contact with a position of an upstream end of the medium in an ejection direction and operate in conjunction with a displacement of a load amount of the medium, a second contact member configured to make contact with a downstream position of the medium in the ejection direction with respect to the first contact member and operate in conjunction with the displacement of the load amount of the medium, one detection auxiliary member configured to make a displacement in conjunction with a displacement of the first contact member and the second contact member, and a detection unit configured to detect the displacement of the detection auxiliary member.