Conveying Device Flapper Relief for Envelope Skew Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, envelopes with flappers can skew when passing through curved conveyance paths, leading to oblique image formation due to gaps between the flapper and the envelope main body.
Innovation Solution
A conveying device with a first conveyance member, a guide member, and a second conveyance member is used, where the guide member has a flapper relief that retracts away from the conveyance path to allow the rise portion of the flapper to pass through, ensuring the flapper face is directed outside the curve and maintaining alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a curved conveyance path is used in the image forming apparatus, then the disposition flexibility of sheet feeding cassette and image former is improved, but envelope skewing occurs due to flapper opening
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the curved conveyance path and the envelope. The guide member includes a flapper relief that mediates the interaction between the envelope flapper and the conveyance path, allowing the flapper to pass through the relief without causing skewing while maintaining the curved path configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member's flapper relief is designed with specific geometric parameters that change along the conveyance path. The relief creates a localized parameter change in the conveyance path geometry, providing extra space for the flapper to open without affecting the overall curved path configuration or causing envelope skewing.
2Manufacturing precision
If guide members are positioned close to the conveyance path, then envelope guidance is improved, but resistance is generated against the flapper causing skewing
Solution Approach 1:
The flapper relief acts as an intermediary space between the guide member and the envelope flapper. This relief prevents direct contact and resistance between the guide member and the flapper, while still maintaining proper envelope guidance through the curved conveyance path.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed with localized quality variations: in regions where the flapper may open, the guide member provides relief (increased space), while in other regions it maintains close positioning for proper guidance. This local quality change allows the guide member to provide guidance without generating resistance against the flapper.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying device includes: a first conveyance member that is provided upstream of the conveyance path; a guide member that is disposed, along the conveyance path, downstream of the first conveyance member in the conveying direction; and a second conveyance member that is disposed downstream of the guide member in the conveying direction and conveys the envelope guided by the guide member, downstream in the conveying direction, wherein the guide member has a flapper relief that has retracted away from the conveyance path such that a rise portion of the flapper generated due to the curve of the conveyance path passes through the flapper relief.