Swinging Member Medium Transfer Device for Edge Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medium transfer devices fail to properly align and transfer mediums placed on a hopper without edge alignment, leading to inadequate image reading of the mediums.

Innovation Solution

A medium transfer device incorporating a swinging member, a hopper with a setting plate that moves mediums by gravitation, and a driving unit to swing the swinging member, aligning the edges of the mediums through mechanical and gravitational forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mediums are placed on the hopper without aligning edges, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of medium transfer deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of medium placementVSAvoidreliability of medium transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hopper performs preliminary alignment action on the mediums before they enter the reading position. The swinging member shakes the mediums to align edges, and the hopper guides them into proper orientation, so that by the time mediums reach the reading position, they are already aligned without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system makes the hopper self-aligning through automatic mechanisms. The swinging member automatically shakes and positions mediums, and the hopper structure itself guides alignment, eliminating the need for users to manually align edges before placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a swinging member is added to align mediums, then the reliability of medium transfer is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of medium transferVSAvoidcomplexity of alignment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The swinging member utilizes mechanical vibration and oscillation to align mediums. By swinging back and forth, it naturally shakes the mediums into alignment through vibrational motion, which is simpler than complex positioning mechanisms with multiple actuators and sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The hopper and swinging member are designed as dynamic components that move to perform alignment functions. The swinging member oscillates to shake mediums, and the hopper can move to guide mediums, using dynamic motion rather than static complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 device effectively aligns and transfers mediums automatically, ensuring accurate image reading without user intervention and improving the efficiency of the medium transfer process.

Implementation Method 1

a hopper in which a setting plate on which a plurality of mediums are placed such that the mediums are moved toward the swinging member by gravitation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10676297B2Medium transfer device

Publication Date: 2020.06.09 PFU LTD

AI summary

A medium transfer device includes a swinging member, a hopper in which a setting plate on which a plurality of mediums are placed such that the mediums are moved toward the swinging member by gravitation, and a driving unit configured to swing the swinging member such that the mediums are shaken by the swinging member.