Rotating Presser Plate for Reading Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing colorimetric apparatuses face issues with reduced throughput and accuracy due to the need for carriage retraction, which causes time loss and potential damage to printed patterns, and repetitive impacts that can degrade sensor attachment and accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A reading apparatus with a movement mechanism that allows the presser plate to rotate and retract, enabling simultaneous pressing and sheet movement, and a flexible presser plate to maintain sheet flatness and prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the carriage is retracted to the outside of the presser plate before sheet movement, then the sheet can be moved without obstruction, but the reading throughput decreases due to the time loss required for carriage retraction and back feed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereading throughputVSAvoidtime loss for carriage retraction and back feed

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The presser plate is made rotatable about a rotation axis, transforming it from a static component to a dynamic one. This allows the presser plate to automatically retract from the sheet path by rotating, enabling continuous sheet movement without requiring the carriage to perform time-consuming retraction and back feed operations, thus improving reading throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The presser plate serves multiple functions: it presses the sheet during reading operations and simultaneously acts as a movable barrier that can rotate out of the way to allow sheet feeding. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for sheet movement and pressing, resolving the time loss issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the carriage moves on the presser plate during reading, then accurate colorimetry can be performed, but the repetitive impacts from the wheel passing the level difference degrade sensor attachment accuracy and may cause sensor failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolorimetry accuracyVSAvoidsensor attachment accuracy and sensor reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The presser plate is designed as a flexible component that can elastically deform under the carriage weight. This flexibility absorbs the impact when the carriage wheel passes the level difference, preventing rigid impacts that would otherwise degrade sensor attachment accuracy or cause sensor failure, while still maintaining sufficient pressing force for accurate colorimetry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If the carriage is retracted to the outside of the presser plate for sheet movement, then the sheet can be fed, but the wheel traveling on the sheet without the presser plate may damage printed patterns or images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet feeding capabilityVSAvoiddamage to printed patterns or images

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The presser plate rotates dynamically to clear the sheet path during feeding operations, but maintains its pressing position during reading operations. This controlled movement allows the carriage to remain positioned over the presser plate throughout the cycle, preventing the wheel from traveling on printed sheets and causing damage, while still enabling sheet feeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8749859B2Reading apparatus and printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.06.10 CANON KK

AI summary

A pressing unit configured to press a supporting surface for supporting a sheet, and a carriage configured to hold a sensor unit and to move on the pressing unit are integrated into one unit. There is provided a movement mechanism configured to move the unit between a first position in which the pressing unit presses the supporting surface during reading and a second position in which the pressing is released during movement of the sheet on the supporting surface.