Recording Material Conveyance Path Branching for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices face reliability issues due to conveyance failures and decreased image quality when using recording materials with unsuitable characteristics, such as creases or electrical properties that lead to jamming and improper charge transfer.
Innovation Solution
A recording material conveying device with multiple conveyors and detectors that branch the conveyance path, allowing materials with unsuitable characteristics to be ejected without passing through the image forming part, ensuring accurate detection and appropriate conveyance conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detector is arranged in the recording material conveyance path to detect recording material characteristics, then image forming conditions can be optimized according to recording material type and physical properties, but recording materials with unsuitable characteristics may still pass through the image forming part causing conveyance failures and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance path is divided into multiple segments: a first conveyance path for normal processing and a second conveyance path for materials requiring ejection. The detector is positioned to identify materials with unsuitable characteristics before they enter the image forming part, allowing the system to segment and redirect problematic materials through a different path that bypasses the image forming part, thereby preventing conveyance failures while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of recording material characteristics using the detector arranged in the conveyance path. Based on the detected characteristics, the system determines in advance whether the recording material is suitable for image formation. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare appropriate conveyance paths before the recording material reaches the image forming part, preventing reliability issues by redirecting unsuitable materials ahead of time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If recording materials are ejected after passing through the image forming part when characteristics are unsuitable, then detection can be performed, but conveyance reliability decreases due to jamming and sticking in the image forming part
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the conveyance paths into a first path that bypasses the image forming part for materials to be ejected, and a second path for normal image formation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain adaptability in handling different recording material types while improving conveyance reliability by preventing problematic materials from entering the image forming part in the first place.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary determination of recording material suitability before the material enters the image forming part. Based on detector readings, the system decides in advance whether to route the material through the ejection path or the image formation path, thereby maintaining versatility in handling various materials while preventing conveyance failures through advance preparation.
3Measurement precision
If electrical resistance measurement is performed on insulating recording materials like paper, then recording material characteristics can be detected, but the recording material becomes charged causing sticking and improper charge transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts or removes the harmful effect of recording material charging by providing an ejection path that bypasses the image forming part. When the detector identifies recording materials with characteristics that would lead to charging issues (such as insulating materials with high electrical resistance), the system redirects these materials through the ejection path, thereby taking out the problematic interaction between the detector and the recording material while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary control mechanism (the path selection system) between the detector and the image forming part. This intermediary allows the detector to perform its measurement function while preventing the harmful charging effect from occurring in the first place by redirecting susceptible materials through a different path, thus mediating between detection needs and charging prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording material conveying device includes: a first conveyor that conveys a recording material supplied from a recording material supply part; a second conveyor that branches from the first conveyor and conveys the recording material without passing through an image forming part; a third conveyor that branches from the first conveyor and conveys the recording material via the image forming part; and a detector that detects a recording material characteristic of the recording material, wherein the recording material whose recording material characteristic has been detected by the detector can be ejected from the second conveyor.