Sheet Conveyer Roller Holder Manipulation Arm Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet conveyer devices face challenges in reducing their vertical volume due to the need for a movable range for the roller holder and boss, which limits their downsizing potential.

Innovation Solution

A sheet conveyer device configuration that includes a roller holder and manipulation arm coupled within the roller holder, allowing the roller holder to move between positions without protruding, reducing the required space and enabling a more compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the boss protrudes upward from the roller holder to enable manipulation arm coupling, then the roller holder can be manipulated to move between positions, but the vertical space required for the roller holder to move increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller holder manipulationVSAvoidvertical space for roller holder movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The coupled section is repositioned from a vertical protrusion (boss extending upward) to a horizontal arrangement within the roller holder body. The manipulation arm couples to the roller holder through a coupled section formed within the roller holder's lateral structure, changing the coupling dimension from vertical to horizontal, thereby eliminating the need for vertical movement space while maintaining manipulation functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupled section is nested within the roller holder body rather than protruding outward. The manipulation arm's coupling interface is integrated into the roller holder's internal structure, allowing the coupling mechanism to be contained within the roller holder's footprint and eliminating external protrusions that would require additional vertical space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of moving object

If the manipulation arm stroke range is increased to achieve sufficient roller holder movement, then the roller holder can move between first and second positions, but the distance between feeder roller and separator roller increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller holder movement rangeVSAvoiddistance between feeder roller and separator roller
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulation arm is configured to move primarily in a horizontal direction parallel to the roller axes rather than vertically. This dimensional change allows the roller holder to be positioned correctly without requiring a large vertical stroke, thereby maintaining a compact horizontal arrangement of the feeder roller and separator roller

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The manipulation arm employs a swingable joint mechanism that allows adaptive movement paths. The arm can swing to achieve the necessary roller holder positioning while minimizing the horizontal distance between rollers, optimizing the compactness of the overall sheet conveyer device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2500302B1Sheet conveyer device and image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2014.04.09 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP2500302B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2500302B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2500302B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sheet conveyer device (23) is provided. The sheet conveyer device includes a sheet tray (21A), a feeder roller (23A), a separator roller (23B), a roller holder (25) to rotatably support the feeder roller and to be coupled with the separator roller, spreading from a separator roller side toward a feeder roller side, to be movable between a first position and a second position, a manipulation arm (27) configured to be coupled to the roller holder and to manipulate the roller holder to move between the first position and the second position, and a driving unit (29) to drive the manipulation arm to move the roller holder. The manipulation arm is coupled to the roller holder at a coupled section (27B), which is in a position between the feeder roller and the separator roller and in a position between two tangent planes (S1,S2) which are common to the feed roller and the separator roller.