Transport Device With Variable Interval Blowing Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices that use blowing holes at constant intervals in the transport direction often cause resonance and repeated contact/separation of the transport material's one-end-side portion with the opposing surface, leading to issues like tearing or image failure during image formation on both sides of a sheet.
Innovation Solution
The transport device employs a blowing unit with blowing holes arranged at varying intervals, including first and second periods, to minimize resonance and prevent repeated contact with the opposing surface, using a transport unit that holds the downstream portion without holding the upstream portion, and a blowing unit that raises the upstream portion from an opposing surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If blowing holes are disposed at a constant interval in the transport direction, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but resonance occurs in the one-end-side portion of the transport material causing repeated contact and separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of blowing hole arrangement from constant interval to variable interval. Specifically, the blowing holes are arranged such that the interval between adjacent holes varies in the transport direction, which prevents resonance by avoiding periodic excitation of the transport material. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while eliminating the harmful resonance effect that causes repeated contact and separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of resonance into a benefit by deliberately designing the blowing hole intervals to avoid resonant frequencies. By carefully selecting non-uniform intervals, the periodic air flow no longer excites resonance in the transport material, thereby preventing the harmful repeated contact and separation while still achieving effective transport.
2Stability of the object's composition
If blowing holes are disposed at a constant interval in the transport direction, then the air flow pattern is uniform and predictable, but the one-end-side portion of the transport material resonates and repeatedly contacts the opposing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the spatial parameter of blowing hole distribution from uniform to non-uniform arrangement. By varying the intervals between blowing holes in the transport direction, the air flow pattern becomes non-periodic, which eliminates resonance conditions while still providing stable and controlled transport of the material without harmful repeated contacts.
3Ease of operation
If the transport unit holds the downstream portion of the transport material, then transport control is improved, but the upstream portion may resonate and contact the opposing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the harmful effects on the upstream portion by changing the blowing hole interval parameters. The non-uniform intervals ensure that even though the downstream portion is held for control, the upstream portion does not experience resonant excitation from periodic air flow, thereby preventing repeated contact and separation while maintaining transport control.
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 arrangement suppresses resonance and repeated contact with the opposing surface, reducing the likelihood of image failure and ensuring smoother transport and image formation on both sides of the sheet.
Implementation Method 1
a blowing unit that blows air against a lower surface of the transport material that is transported by the transport unit
Implementation Method 2
when the multiple blowing holes only include blowing holes that are disposed at a constant interval in the transport direction, the one-end-side portion of the transport material in the transport direction may resonate
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet-like transport material without holding a one-end-side portion of the transport material in a transport direction; and a blowing unit that blows air against a lower surface of the transport material that is transported by the transport unit via multiple blowing holes that open with respect to the lower surface, an arrangement interval of the multiple blowing holes in the transport direction being inconstant in the transport direction.