Belt Transportation Pulley Diameter Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the use of robust stainless steel transportation belts requires larger pulleys, leading to increased intervals between belt transportation units, which can result in unstable paper transfer, especially with smaller or thinner papers, causing paper rise issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a three-belt transportation system where the third belt transportation unit has pulleys with smaller diameters than the first and second units, allowing for stable paper transfer by optimizing pulley diameters and using belts made of metal or resin, with negative pressure generating units and blower units to manage paper movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the diameter of pulleys is increased to support robust stainless steel transportation belts, then the durability and robustness of the belt transportation system is improved, but the interval between belt transportation units is enlarged causing paper rise and unstable transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different pulley diameters to different positions in the transportation system. Specifically, the third upstream side pulley has a smaller diameter than the first downstream side pulley, and the third downstream side pulley has a smaller diameter than the second upstream side pulley. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain robustness where needed while minimizing paper rise in transfer regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of pulley diameter to optimize paper transfer stability. By making the third upstream side pulley and third downstream side pulley smaller in diameter, the system reduces the interval between belt transportation units in the transfer region, preventing paper rise while maintaining overall system robustness through the larger pulleys in the first and second belt transportation units.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the diameter of pulleys is increased to support robust stainless steel transportation belts, then the durability of the belt is improved, but the interval between belt transportation units is enlarged causing paper to rise or become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different pulley diameters to different functional regions. The first and second belt transportation units use larger pulleys for durability, while the third belt transportation unit (which handles transfer) uses smaller pulleys to maintain compact spacing and prevent paper rise during the transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the physical parameter of pulley diameter based on functional requirements. By reducing the diameter of the third upstream side pulley and third downstream side pulley, the system achieves closer spacing between belt transportation units, ensuring stable transfer of recording media without compromising the durability provided by the larger pulleys in other units.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus in which paper is stably transferred from a belt transportation unit on an upstream side to a belt transportation unit on a downstream side. Problems as described above are solved by using the image forming apparatus including a first belt transportation unit, a second belt transportation unit, and a third belt transportation unit that transports a recording medium received from the first belt transportation unit to transfer the recording medium to the second belt transportation unit, in which a diameter of an upstream side pulley of the third belt transportation unit is smaller than a diameter of a downstream side pulley of the first belt transportation unit and a diameter of a downstream side pulley of the third belt transportation unit is smaller than a diameter of an upstream side pulley of the second belt transportation unit.