Swingable Feed Roller Mechanism for Compact Recording Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face complexity and size issues due to the need for a mechanism to move the feed roller away from the recording medium without contact, which complicates the apparatus and increases its size.
Innovation Solution
A recording medium feeding device with a swingable support member and engagement mechanism using a pinion gear and rack system, allowing the feed roller to be easily moved away from the medium without transmitting power, reducing the apparatus size and minimizing wear through rotational friction resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanism is used to move the feed roller away from the recording medium and maintain it in a separated state, then the recording medium can be protected from deformation and damage, but the apparatus becomes complicated and increases in size
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller is made swingable about a pivot shaft, allowing it to dynamically change position between contacting and separating from the recording medium. This dynamic configuration enables the feed roller to maintain separation during non-feeding operations without requiring complex additional mechanisms, thus protecting the medium while avoiding apparatus complication.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation function is achieved by extracting the feed roller from its fixed position and making it movable relative to the recording medium. By taking out the feed roller from a fixed contact state and allowing it to swing away, the patent eliminates the need for separate maintenance mechanisms, reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining protection capability.
2Reliability
If a mechanism is used to move the feed roller away from the recording medium and maintain it in a separated state, then the recording medium can be protected from deformation and damage, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller is made swingable about a pivot shaft, allowing it to dynamically change position between contacting and separating from the recording medium. This dynamic configuration enables the feed roller to maintain separation during non-feeding operations without requiring complex additional mechanisms, thus protecting the medium while avoiding apparatus complication.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation mechanism is merged with the existing feed roller support structure. By integrating the swingable connection directly into the feed roller assembly, the patent eliminates the need for separate maintenance mechanisms, reducing apparatus size while maintaining protection capability.
3Ease of operation
If the feed roller is in contact with the recording medium during non-feeding time, then the feed roller can be easily positioned, but additional recording media cannot be easily set and the medium may have deformation or smudge
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller is made swingable about a pivot shaft, allowing it to dynamically change position between contacting and separating from the recording medium. This dynamic configuration enables the feed roller to maintain separation during non-feeding operations without requiring complex additional mechanisms, thus protecting the medium while avoiding apparatus complication.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roller is preliminarily positioned in a separated state during non-feeding operations, preventing any potential contact that could cause deformation or smudge. This preliminary separation action is maintained through the swingable connection, ensuring the medium remains protected until feeding operation requires contact.
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
The solution allows for a simple configuration that maintains the feed roller in a separated state, reducing the apparatus size while minimizing wear and improving throughput by limiting the switching time between feeding and separated states.
Implementation Method 1
a first engagement section which is formed by a gear that swings with the first support member, and a second engagement section which is engageable with the first engagement section
Implementation Method 2
the first engagement section is formed by a pinion gear with a rotational friction resistance applied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A recording medium feeding device includes a first support member that supports a feed roller and is configured to be swingable about a pivot shaft so that the first support member swings to displace the feed roller in directions to and away from the recording medium, a first engagement section that includes a gear that swings with the first support member, and a second engagement section that is engageable with the first engagement section when the first support member swings to move the feed roller away from the recording medium, wherein engagement of the first engagement section and the second engagement section is maintained in a state where a power in a swing direction is not transmitted to the first support member, and engagement of the first engagement section and the second engagement section is released when the power in the swing direction is transmitted to the first support member.