Transporting Device Posture Control via Segmented Levers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional transporting devices for image recording apparatuses face challenges in reducing the operational force required to move members that change posture, leading to high user effort and restrictive motor specifications due to simultaneous posture changes initiated by a single operating lever.

Innovation Solution

A transporting device design featuring multiple member pairs that change posture independently, with abutting portions and inclined surfaces to balance and distribute forces, allowing for reduced effort in moving the movable member, and incorporating biasing members to facilitate posture changes with opposing force directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single operating lever is used to simultaneously change the posture of multiple members, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operating load becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidoperating load

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single operating lever into multiple operating levers, with each lever controlling the posture change of a specific member pair. This segmentation allows the operating load to be distributed across multiple levers, reducing the force required on each individual lever while maintaining the overall functionality of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a motor is used to move the movable member, then the ease of operation is improved, but the torque specification becomes severely restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoidmotor torque

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs biasing members that generate forces in opposite directions to counterbalance the loads on the movable member. By positioning these biasing members to create opposing forces, the net load that the motor must overcome is significantly reduced, allowing for the use of motors with lower torque specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Productivity

If multiple member pairs change posture simultaneously, then the productivity is improved, but the force required to move the movable member increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransporting efficiencyVSAvoidmoving force

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control of member pairs by assigning each pair to a separate operating lever. This allows for staged or sequential posture changes where not all members need to change position simultaneously, thereby reducing the peak force required on the movable member while still achieving the overall transporting function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces biasing members that dynamically adjust the forces acting on the movable member during the posture change process. These biasing members create opposing forces that counterbalance the loads, allowing the system to maintain productivity while reducing the net force required to move the movable member through different stages of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution significantly reduces the force required to move the movable member, enhancing usability and alleviating torque restrictions on drive sources, thereby improving the efficiency and ease of operation of the transporting device.

Implementation Method 1

the first abutting portion abuts on one of the first member pair and makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, thereby generating a force in a direction opposite to a direction of movement from the fifth posture to the sixth posture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce: Force

Implementation Method 2

the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair and makes the second member pair change the posture from the third posture to the fourth posture, thereby generating a force in a same direction as the direction of movement from the fifth posture to the sixth posture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce: Force

Implementation Method 3

incorporating biasing members to facilitate posture changes with opposing force directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8567941B2Transporting device and image recording apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2013.10.29 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

There is provided a transporting device transporting a medium, including: a first member pair which changes a posture of the first member pair between a first posture and a second posture; a second member pair which changes a posture of the second member pair between a third posture and a fourth posture; and a movable member which is movable between a fifth posture and a sixth posture, and which has a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion, wherein, in a process that the movable member moves from the fifth posture to the sixth posture, the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, and while the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture, the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair.