Common Conveying Path for Image Forming Apparatus Downsizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in downsizing due to the separate document conveying paths and sheet conveying paths, making it difficult to integrate them effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a common conveying path that allows both sheets and documents to be conveyed together, using a dual drive system with electromagnetic clutches to manage the transmission of drive force to various components, enabling independent operation of the document and sheet handling systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If separate document conveying path and sheet conveying path are provided, then document feeding and sheet conveying functions are ensured, but apparatus size increases and downsizing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the document conveying path and sheet conveying path into a shared common conveying path. The document feeding portion feeds documents through the common conveying path, and the sheet conveying path also uses this common path for transporting sheets. This merging eliminates the need for completely separate conveying systems, thereby reducing apparatus size while maintaining both document feeding and sheet conveying functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The common conveying path is designed to serve multiple functions: it conveys documents from the document feeding portion to the document discharge portion, and simultaneously conveys sheets from the sheet feeding portion through the image forming portion to the sheet discharge portion. This multi-functionality allows a single conveying path structure to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated paths, achieving downsizing without sacrificing functional capability.
2Productivity
If image reading is performed sequentially after image forming, then reading accuracy is ensured, but productivity decreases due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary action by allowing the image reading portion to start reading documents as soon as they are fed onto the common conveying path, without waiting for the image forming process to complete. The document conveying and image forming operations are decoupled, so document reading can begin in advance while the sheet is being processed through the image forming portion. This eliminates idle waiting time and improves overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves continuity of useful action by enabling overlapping operations: while the image forming portion is forming an image on a sheet, the document feeding portion simultaneously feeds a document onto the common conveying path, and the image reading portion simultaneously reads that document. All three operations proceed continuously and concurrently, maximizing resource utilization and eliminating gaps in the workflow.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent drive systems are used for document feeding and sheet conveying, then operational flexibility is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drive transmission system into two independent portions: a first drive transmission portion that transmits drive force to the sheet feeding portion and image forming portion, and a second drive transmission portion that transmits drive force to the document feeding portion and conveyance portion. This segmentation allows each portion to be controlled independently while sharing the common conveying path, providing operational flexibility without requiring a completely separate drive system for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first conveying path guiding a sheet such that the sheet passes through the image forming portion, a second conveying path guiding the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming portion to the first conveying path. A document is fed to the second conveying path and the image forming apparatus includes a first drive transmission portion transmitting a drive force to the image forming portion and a second drive transmission portion transmitting the drive force to a document feeding portion, a conveyance portion and a document discharge portion.