Skew Correction in Medium Conveying Apparatus via Roller Repositioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medium conveying apparatuses, such as scanners, face challenges in correcting skew (oblique motion) of conveyed media, which can lead to jamming issues if not properly addressed.

Innovation Solution

A medium conveying apparatus that includes a first roller for conveying the medium, a movement mechanism to move the first roller between a contact position and a spaced-apart position, a second roller located downstream to continue conveying the medium, and a processor to detect skew and control the movement mechanism to correct the skew using the second roller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the first roller continuously contacts the medium to convey it, then the medium conveying function is maintained, but the skew correction capability is reduced when skew occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskew correction capabilityVSAvoidmedium conveying efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The first roller is made movable between a first position where it contacts the medium for conveying and a second position where it is spaced apart from the medium. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to switch between conveying mode and skew correction mode, resolving the contradiction between continuous conveying and effective skew correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the first roller is moved to correct skew, then the skew correction is effective, but the medium conveying function is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskew correction accuracyVSAvoidconveying interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects skew occurrence and proactively moves the first roller to the second position before the skew causes serious problems. The processor detects skew and controls the movement mechanism to reposition the roller in advance, enabling timely correction without significant conveying interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed roller configuration is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to skew conditions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskew condition adaptabilityVSAvoidroller movement mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first roller is equipped with a movement mechanism that allows it to dynamically reposition between contact and spaced-apart states. This dynamic capability provides adaptability to skew conditions while adding only moderate complexity to the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250128901A1Medium conveying apparatus to correct skew of medium using second roller while moving first roller to be spaced apart from medium

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 PFU LTD

AI summary

A medium conveying apparatus includes a first roller to convey a medium, a movement mechanism to move the first roller between a first position in contact with the medium and a second position spaced apart from the medium, a second roller located on a downstream side of the first roller in a medium conveying direction to convey the medium, and a processor to detect a skew of the conveyed medium, and control the movement mechanism to move the first roller to the second position, and correct the skew of the medium using the second roller when the skew of the medium is detected.