Transport Device Overlapping Paths Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording devices face challenges in efficiently designing transport paths that allow for increased path length without expanding the device's size, leading to potential interference between internal and external device components and requiring additional space for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a device main body featuring overlapping descending and ascending paths, an upper guide portion that can move outward, and a lower guide portion with a first path forming member that can move between two positions, allowing the transport path to be opened and facilitating maintenance without increasing the device's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the descending path and ascending path are provided in parts of the transport path so that parts of the transport path overlap each other in a height direction, then the length of the transport path is increased without increasing the size of the device main body, but when the transport path is opened, members positioned outside and inside the device main body interfere with each other and the transport path cannot be opened
Solution Approach 1:
The first path forming member is made movable between a first position (where it forms the descending path and overlaps with the upper guide portion's moving area) and a second position (where it does not overlap the moving area). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the transport path to be opened by moving the first path forming member to the second position, resolving the interference issue while maintaining the overlapping path structure for length efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower guide portion is divided into a first path forming member (forming the descending path) and a second path forming member (forming the ascending path). This segmentation allows the first path forming member to be independently moved to resolve interference with the upper guide portion during opening, while the second path forming member remains stationary to maintain the ascending path structure.
2Ease of operation
If an attempt is made to open the transport path after taking out parts constituting the descending path and the ascending path, then the transport path can be opened, but an extra space for taking out the parts is required and the size of the device main body increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely removing the first path forming member to open the transport path, the member is dynamically moved to a second position where it does not overlap with the upper guide portion's moving area. This allows the transport path to be opened while keeping the first path forming member within the device main body, avoiding the need for extra space and preventing an increase in device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The first path forming member is positioned such that it can be moved within the existing space of the device main body. When moved to the second position, it nests within or alongside other components without requiring additional external space, allowing the transport path to be opened while maintaining a compact device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport portion includes a device main body, an upper guide portion, and a lower guide portion. In the device main body, a descending path and an ascending path overlap each other in a Z direction. The upper guide portion is configured to be moved outward with respect to the device main body and is positioned above the descending path and the ascending path in a state in which the upper guide portion is stored. The lower guide portion forms the descending path and the ascending path together with the upper guide portion. The lower guide portion includes a first path forming member and a second path forming member. The first path forming member forms the descending path and at least partially overlaps a moving area of the upper guide portion at a first position and does not overlap the moving area at a second position.