Return Member Orientation Control for Sheet Jam Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining appropriate sheet transportation when the space between the feed roller and the uppermost sheet is small, leading to potential creasing and jamming due to obstructed free rotation of the feed roller.

Innovation Solution

A recording apparatus with a return member that is switchable between orientations, allowing free rotation of the feed roller during back-feeding and preventing contact with the feed roller, combined with a control unit that drives the transport roller in reverse to ensure proper sheet positioning and reduce transporting load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the space between the feed roller and the uppermost sheet is reduced to increase sheet capacity, then the number of sheets that can be set increases, but the feed roller may come into contact with the sheets and obstruct free rotation during back-feeding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sheetsVSAvoidfree rotation of feed roller

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The return member is designed to be movable between a first position (where it contacts the sheet) and a second position (where it does not contact the sheet). During back-feeding, the return member shifts to the second position, dynamically adjusting the system to prevent obstruction of the feed roller while maintaining sheet capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The return member acts as an intermediary between the sheet and the feed roller. By positioning the return member appropriately, it mediates the interaction between these components, preventing direct contact between the sheet and feed roller during back-feeding operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the hopper is lowered during back-feeding to allow sheet movement, then the sheet can be positioned correctly, but the set sheets may come into contact with the feed roller and obstruct rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet positioningVSAvoidfree rotation of feed roller

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The return member is positioned in advance (before back-feeding starts) to the second position where it does not contact the sheet. This preliminary action prevents potential obstruction of the feed roller before the back-feeding operation begins, ensuring smooth sheet positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The return member serves as an intermediary that protects the feed roller from sheet contact during the sheet positioning operation, allowing the hopper to be lowered without risking feed roller obstruction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the feed roller is freely rotatable during back-feeding, then the sheet can be back-fed smoothly, but the feed roller may contact the sheets and cause creasing and jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveback-feeding smoothnessVSAvoidcreasing and jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The return member acts as a protective intermediary between the sheet and feed roller during back-feeding. When positioned appropriately, it prevents direct contact that would cause creasing and jamming, while allowing the feed roller to rotate freely for smooth back-feeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows the feed roller to be freely rotatable (which could potentially cause harm through contact), but uses the return member to convert this potential harm into a benefit by ensuring free rotation occurs without adverse contact, enabling smooth back-feeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10457510B2Recording apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A recording apparatus includes a return member switchable between a first orientation in which a portion of the return member overlaps a feed roller in a side view of a medium feeding path and a second orientation in which the return member is turned toward a downstream side in a medium feeding direction and does not overlap the feed roller. The return member changes an orientation thereof from the second orientation to the first orientation, thereby returning a medium to an upstream side in the medium feeding direction. When a transport roller disposed downstream of the feed roller is driven in reverse to return the medium to the upstream side and position the medium at a recording start position, the return member takes a third orientation in which the return member is raised toward the upstream side further than in the first orientation.