Transport Roller Support Segmentation for Bearing Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing medium transport apparatuses, such as those in ink jet printers, face challenges in maintaining the straightness of transport rollers due to the frequent detachment and attachment of bearings during maintenance, especially with longer rollers and increased operational demands.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport apparatus with a roller support portion that includes a support member contacting the transport roller at two circumferential positions, a base member defining the position, and an intermediary member that allows separation without moving the support and base members, facilitating easy replacement and adjustment of the support member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the bearing supporting the transport roller is detached and attached during maintenance, then the transport roller can be maintained or replaced, but the bearing mounting position must be adjusted by the wedge body and bracket each time, increasing maintenance time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is divided into three separable members: base member, intermediary member, and support member. This segmentation allows the support member to be detached and replaced independently without affecting the base member position, eliminating the need for repeated position adjustments during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary member acts as a mediator between the base member and support member. It enables the support member to be easily attached and detached while maintaining the positional relationship with the base member, thus simplifying bearing replacement operations.
2Length of moving object
If the transport roller length is increased to handle wider media, then the medium transport capability is improved, but the frequency of bearing detachment and attachment increases due to greater deterioration and longer operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the support structure into base member, intermediary member, and support member, the patent enables easy replacement of bearings on long transport rollers. The support member can be detached and reattached without complex position adjustments, making maintenance of long rollers as easy as short ones.
3Ease of repair
If the bearing is frequently detached and attached during maintenance, then the transport roller can be maintained, but the positional relationship between support components may change, affecting the straightness of the transport roller
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary member maintains the positional relationship between the base member and support member during attachment and detachment operations. This ensures that the straightness and alignment of the transport roller are preserved even when bearings are frequently maintained or replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The base member and intermediary member are positioned and fixed in advance with precise regulating structures. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the support member is reattached, the correct positional relationship is automatically restored without requiring additional adjustment, thereby maintaining transport roller straightness.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transport apparatus includes a transport roller configured to transport a medium and a roller support portion configured to support the transport roller. The roller support portion includes a support member contacting an outer circumferential surface of the transport roller at two positions thereof in a circumferential direction to support the transport roller, a base member defining a position of the support member, and an intermediary member mediating the support member and the base member. The intermediary member is configured to cause separation between the support member and the base member without moving the support member and the base member.