Sheet Transport Device with Guide Member and Jam Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet transportation devices often cause damage such as creases and folds due to jamming when the downstream transporting roller is unable to pull the sheet, as the upstream roller continues to send the sheet despite the downstream roller's incapability.

Innovation Solution

A transporting device with a guide member that pushes and bends the transport path toward the front surface of the sheet, using a sensor to detect jamming and stop transportation when the sheet is lifted by a predetermined amount, and employing a cleaning roller to prevent jamming by slidingly contacting the sheet's front surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the upstream side transporting roller continues to send the transportation target object, then the transportation efficiency is maintained, but damage such as creases and folds occurs to the transportation target object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to transportation target object
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor detects the position of the transportation target object and provides feedback to the control unit. When the sensor detects that the object has been sent by the upstream side transporting roller, it signals the control unit to stop the upstream side transporting roller, preventing continuous sending and potential damage while maintaining transportation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit stops the upstream side transporting roller in advance before the transportation target object reaches the downstream side transporting roller. This preliminary stopping action prevents the object from being damaged by continuous pressure or folding, while the coordinated control ensures smooth transportation without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the upstream side transporting roller stops sending the transportation target object, then damage to the object is prevented, but transportation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage to transportation target objectVSAvoidtransportation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor continuously monitors the position of the transportation target object and provides real-time feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures the upstream side transporting roller stops at the precise moment when the object has been successfully sent, preventing both damage and unnecessary interruptions to transportation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The transporting device uses dynamic control where the upstream side transporting roller operates continuously until the sensor detects the object has been sent, at which point the control unit dynamically adjusts by stopping the roller. This dynamic operation-maintenance-stop cycle optimizes both damage prevention and transportation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the downstream side transporting roller is in a state of being incapable of transporting, then the transportation process is interrupted, but the upstream side transporting roller continues to send the object causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation process stabilityVSAvoiddamage to transportation target object
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor detects when the transportation target object has been sent by the upstream side transporting roller and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that the upstream side transporting roller stops even when the downstream side transporting roller is incapable of transporting, preventing damage while maintaining process stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit stops the upstream side transporting roller in advance before the object reaches the incapable downstream side transporting roller. This preliminary action prevents the object from being damaged by continuous sending despite downstream transportation incapability, while the coordinated control maintains overall process stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3686136B1Transporting device and transporting method
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3686136B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3686136B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3686136B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is a transporting device and a transporting method that enable preventing damage to a transportation target object. A transporting device (10) sends a sheet (14) with the rotation of a first drive roller (20) with the sheet (14) sandwiched between a first drive roller (20) and a driven roller (24). The sheet (14) is sent to a direction to which a back surface thereof is pressed against a guide surface (36), and is transported to a second drive roller (22) in a state of being pressed against the guide surface (36) after the guide surface (36) pushing and bending a transport path (30) toward a front surface side. A lifted amount of the sheet (14) from the guide surface (36) is monitored by a sensor (38), and the transportation is stopped in a case where the lifted amount is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.