Tension Roller Alignment Mechanism for Wrinkle Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming devices like ink-jet printers, tension rollers must be easily adjustable to prevent wrinkles on workpieces, but existing solutions lack efficient mechanisms for aligning these rollers parallel to the workpiece width during attachment.
Innovation Solution
A transporting device with a tension mechanism that includes a tension roller, supporting members, and tensional force adjusting members, allowing for easy positional adjustment of the tension rollers by pivoting about axes extending in the workpiece's width direction, ensuring the rollers are parallel to the workpiece width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tension rollers are attached without easy adjustment mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to align rollers parallel to workpiece width
Solution Approach 1:
The tension roller is designed with a pivotable support structure that allows dynamic adjustment of the roller's position and orientation. The support shaft can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the workpiece width direction, enabling the roller to be aligned parallel to the workpiece width during attachment and operation
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism introduces an additional degree of freedom by allowing rotation about an axis perpendicular to the workpiece width direction. This dimensional adjustment capability enables precise alignment without complicating the overall structure, as the adjustment occurs in a different orientation than the primary tensioning function
2Manufacturing precision
If tension rollers require precise alignment during attachment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in aligning rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The support shaft is designed to rotate freely about an axis perpendicular to the workpiece width direction, allowing the tension roller to be easily aligned during attachment. This dynamic capability enables operators to adjust the roller orientation without requiring complex alignment tools or procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The tension roller's support structure automatically provides alignment capability through its pivotable design. When attached, the roller can be positioned parallel to the workpiece width by simple rotation about the support shaft axis, eliminating the need for external alignment devices or complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Tension rollers are each supported by, at one end regarding the axial direction thereof, a first supporting member fastened to a first tensional force adjusting member by fastening members and, at the other end regarding the axial direction thereof, a second supporting member fastened to a second tensional force adjusting member by fastening members. The first and second supporting members each include elongate insertion holes as insertion holes in which the fastening members are inserted. The first and second tensional force adjusting members each include elongate insertion holes as insertion holes in which the fastening members are inserted. The elongate insertion holes each extend in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the tension roller.