Roll Recorder Slack Control via Variable Transport Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in transporting roll-shaped recording media while maintaining optimal slack levels, as the roll diameter changes significantly between the start and end of use, leading to difficulties in suppressing slack and ensuring efficient transport.

Innovation Solution

A recording apparatus with a delivery section that includes a slack sensor and a control system to adjust the transport speed of the recording medium, intermittently driving the transport belt and delivery motor to maintain optimal slack levels, and notify the user of remaining medium amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the transport speed is increased to improve productivity, then the transport efficiency is improved, but the slack control becomes difficult and transport reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidtransport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transport speed variable rather than constant. The control section dynamically adjusts the transport speed based on real-time slack detection signals from the slack detection section. When slack is excessive, the speed is reduced; when slack is insufficient, the speed is increased. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high productivity when conditions permit while ensuring transport reliability when slack control is critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control through the slack detection section that continuously monitors the slack state of the recording medium and provides signals to the control section. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust transport speed to maintain optimal slack levels, thereby maintaining both high productivity and reliable transport without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the transport speed is decreased to maintain slack control, then the transport reliability is improved, but the productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport reliabilityVSAvoidtransport efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts transport speed based on actual slack conditions rather than maintaining a consistently low speed. The control section increases speed when slack is sufficient and decreases it only when slack becomes excessive, thereby maintaining reliability while maximizing productivity during favorable conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transport speed parameter dynamically based on slack detection results. Rather than fixing the speed at a low value for reliability, the system varies the speed parameter within an optimal range, adjusting it according to real-time slack measurements to balance reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a simple slack detection system is used to reduce device complexity, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision of slack detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidslack detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a slack detection section as an intermediary component that specifically measures the slack state of the recording medium. This dedicated detection mechanism provides precise slack measurement without requiring complex overall system redesign, thereby achieving high measurement precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2921443B1Recording apparatus, method for transporting recording medium, and method for notifying information of remaining amount of recording medium
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP2921443B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2921443B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2921443B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A recording apparatus (1) includes a delivery section (2) that rotates and delivers a roll-shaped recording medium (M); a transport belt (3) that transports the recording medium (M) delivered from the delivery section; a slack sensor (15) that detects a slackened state (S) in the recording medium delivered from the delivery section (2) to the transport belt (3); and a control section (14) that performs low speed transport control for controlling the transport belt (3) such that the recording medium is transported by decreasing a transport speed of the recording medium depending on the transport belt if the slack sensor (15) detects a lack of slack of the recording medium in a period of a first time (t1) or more.