Transport Roller Decurling Mechanism for Paper Jam Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport devices with pairs of rollers struggle to effectively correct winding curl in media like paper sheets, leading to surface irregularities and increased risk of paper jams, which complicates maintenance and can result in torn sheets during jam removal.
Innovation Solution
A transport device configuration featuring a medium carrying unit with a curved route defining portion and a second roller that nips the medium to deform it, ensuring the inner surface becomes the outer surface of the curl, while the first roller transports the medium, preventing floating and facilitating maintenance by releasing the medium from the nipped state when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pair of transport rollers nips the paper sheet to correct winding curl, then the winding curl correction effectiveness is improved, but the paper sheet may float from the transport roller and the support position shifts
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the transport rollers and the paper sheet. This support member provides stable support for the paper sheet during transport, preventing position shifts while allowing the transport rollers to effectively nip and correct the winding curl without causing the paper sheet to float.
2Manufacturing precision
If the paper sheet is nipped between transport roller and decurl roller to correct winding curl, then the winding curl correction is improved, but the paper sheet may be torn upon removal of paper jam
Solution Approach 1:
The support member acts as a mediator that distributes the nipping force during curl correction, preventing excessive stress concentration on the paper sheet. This reduces the risk of paper tearing when jams occur, while still maintaining effective winding curl correction capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the paper sheet is nipped between transport rollers to correct winding curl, then the winding curl correction effectiveness is improved, but maintenance work becomes difficult due to paper jam
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device is segmented into a movable maintenance section that can be separated from the main body. This segmentation allows easy access to the transport rollers and support member for maintenance work, while the support member itself remains in place to continue providing paper sheet support during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is designed with movable characteristics, allowing it to be adjusted or removed during maintenance operations. This dynamic design enables easy access to the nipping region for clearing paper jams and performing maintenance, while maintaining its support function during normal operation.
4Manufacturing precision
If a curved route defining portion is added to guide the medium, then the winding curl correction is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member serves multiple functions: it supports the paper sheet during transport, prevents position shifts, and works in conjunction with the curved route defining portion to aid in winding curl correction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
This configuration effectively corrects winding curl, prevents paper jams, and simplifies maintenance by ensuring the medium is securely supported and easily removable, reducing frictional resistance and the need for additional steps during maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a second roller that nips the medium in collaboration with a first roller so as to deform the medium such that the second surface becomes oriented to the outer side of the curve
Implementation Method 2
the curved route defining portion serves to guide the medium such that the second surface thereof remains oriented to the inner side of the curl of the medium, and therefore the winding curl of the medium can be corrected
Data Source
AI summary
A transport device includes a medium carrying unit on which a medium having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface is superposedly wound in a cylindrical shape so as to form a roll body, the second surface being oriented so as to form an inner circumferential surface in the roll body, a route defining portion fixed in a curved shape so as to guide the medium such that the second surface is oriented to the inner side of the curve, and a slave roller that nips the medium in collaboration with a transport roller so as to deform the medium such that the second surface becomes oriented to the outer side of the curve, the slave roller being located downstream of the route defining portion in the transport direction of the medium.