Image Scanning Roller Arrangement Prevents Media Skew
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image scanning apparatuses face issues with skewing of wide media due to curled ends contacting driven rollers, leading to uneven conveyance and potential oblique feeding.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a driving roller and a first driven roller separated by a distance, with the first driven roller positioned on the outlet side and a second driven roller opposite to the second lower guide surface, along with an urging mechanism to ensure proper contact and transmission of driving force, preventing skewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driven roller is positioned above the driving roller axis to convey wide media, then the media can be conveyed through the apparatus, but the curled end portions of wide media contact the driven roller causing reactive forces that lead to oblique feeding and skewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the driven roller from above the driving roller axis to below the driving roller axis, fundamentally changing the spatial dimension of roller arrangement. This dimensional change allows the driven roller to contact the lower surface of the media while the driving roller contacts the upper surface, preventing curled end portions from contacting the driven roller and generating harmful reactive forces that cause skewing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric positioning where the driven roller axis is located below the driving roller axis rather than symmetrically above it. This asymmetric arrangement creates a conveyance path where media is guided between the two rollers without the curled ends contacting the driven roller, eliminating the reactive forces that lead to oblique feeding
2Device complexity
If the driven roller is spaced from the driving roller by a predetermined amount, then the roller structure is simplified, but wide media may not be properly conveyed without additional guidance
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the driven roller below the driving roller axis rather than above, the patent creates a three-dimensional conveyance path that naturally guides wide media through the apparatus. This spatial arrangement provides proper media guidance without requiring additional complex guiding mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring reliable conveyance of wide media
Solution Approach 2:
The lower positioning of the driven roller acts as an intermediary element that guides media from below while the driving roller guides from above. This dual-guidance arrangement ensures wide media is properly conveyed through the apparatus without requiring additional complex guiding structures
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
This configuration effectively suppresses oblique proceeding of media introduced from the first inlet, ensuring accurate and uniform conveyance by preventing the wide media from being caught on rollers and maintaining proper alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a driving roller and a first driven roller separated from the driving roller by a first distance
Implementation Method 2
an urging mechanism to ensure proper contact and transmission of driving force
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
In an image scanning apparatus, a conveying unit has a first conveying unit (110, 111, 112) configured to convey the medium introduced from the second inlet (12) toward an outlet (13) via a confluence position (J1). The conveying unit including a driving roller (110) arranged on a first lower guide surface (32G) side in a first guide portion (10), and inside a path, in the width direction, from the second inlet to the outlet. The driving roller is configured to rotate about a driving axis which is arranged on the outlet side with respect to the confluence position. A first driven roller (111) is arranged on the first upper guide surface side in the first guide portion and is supported rotatably about a first driven axis (X111) which is arranged on the outlet side with respect to the driving axis and on the outlet side with respect to the driving axis, and a second driven roller (112) is arranged at a position opposite to the second guide surface in the second guide portion and is supported rotatably about a second driven axis (X112) and facing the second guide surface.