Adjustable Sheet Conveyor Guide for Height Mismatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet post-processing apparatuses face challenges in receiving paper sheets due to height mismatches and interference between the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus, leading to difficulties in conveying sheets efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyor unit with a convey guide composed of paired guide members that include a receiving port and a sheet conveying path, allowing for adjustable opening widths and positions to accommodate height differences and restricted arrangements, ensuring smooth sheet transfer between the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the image forming apparatus is placed close to the sheet post-processing apparatus, then the distance between outlet and inlet is reduced, but height mismatch and peripheral interference occur
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are designed to be rotatable about rotation axes, allowing the opening area of the receiving port to be dynamically adjusted. This enables the sheet conveyor unit to adapt to different height mismatches between the image forming apparatus outlet and the sheet post-processing apparatus inlet, while maintaining a compact arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving port is disposed on the upstream side of the inlet in the sheet conveying direction, and the guide members can be rotated to adjust the opening area in the vertical dimension. This dimensional adjustment allows the system to accommodate height differences without increasing the horizontal distance between apparatuses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the receiving port opening area is fixed, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate height differences between outlet and inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are designed with rotation capability about rotation axes, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. The opening area of the receiving port can be adjusted by rotating the guide members, enabling accommodation of height differences while maintaining structural simplicity through a single degree of freedom rotation mechanism.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the inlet is positioned away from the outlet, then peripheral interference is avoided, but the paper sheet cannot be easily entered into the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet conveyor unit with the adjustable receiving port acts as an intermediary between the image forming apparatus outlet and the sheet post-processing apparatus inlet. By adjusting the opening area of the receiving port, it can bridge the gap caused by spatial separation while maintaining easy sheet entry, thus mediating between avoiding interference and ensuring easy operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyor unit is connected to downstream side of an upstream side unit in a sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveyor unit includes a convey guide for receiving a sheet discharged from outlet of the upstream side unit. The convey guide is constituted of a pair of guide members disposed to face each other with a predetermined space therebetween. The guide members have the same shape and include base parts having guide surfaces that form a sheet conveying path when combined to face each other, and inclined parts bent to directions apart from the guide surfaces from one end of the base parts in the sheet conveying direction so as to form a receiving port. The convey guide is attached selectively to one of positions different in at least one of a height direction and the sheet conveying direction with respect to an apparatus main body.