Conveying Device Nip Force Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing conveying devices face challenges in maintaining stable nip forces between rollers due to tolerance or play in components, which can affect the conveying speed and distance of sheets when the cover is opened or closed.
Innovation Solution
A conveying device is designed with a guide member that can change its state to either define part of the conveyance path or expose it, featuring an urging force applier and adjuster to adjust the nip force of the rollers accordingly, ensuring stability when the guide member is closed and reducing the nip force when opened.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guide member is opened to expose the conveyance path for maintenance or paper jam clearance, then accessibility is improved, but the nip force of the conveying roller pair becomes unstable due to changes in component positions and play
Solution Approach 1:
The urging force adjuster dynamically changes the urging force applied to the second roller based on the guide member's position. When the guide member is opened, the urging force is reduced to accommodate position changes and prevent excessive force. When closed, the full urging force is restored. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between accessibility and nip force stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of urging force magnitude based on the operational state of the guide member. By adjusting the urging force parameter between a first value (when guide member is closed) and a second value (when guide member is opened), the system adapts to different states and maintains optimal performance in each condition.
2Productivity
If the nip force of the conveying roller pair is increased to improve conveying speed and distance control, then conveying performance is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to component tolerance and play when the cover is opened or closed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by reducing the urging force when the guide member is opened, anticipating that component positions will change. This prevents the excessive nip force from causing instability or damage during maintenance operations, while still allowing high conveying performance when the system is fully assembled and closed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for stable restoration and adjustment of nip forces between rollers, ensuring consistent conveying performance and ease of maintenance by reducing the nip force when the guide member is opened, thus addressing the instability caused by component tolerance or play.
Implementation Method 1
an urging force applier configured to apply, to the second roller, an urging force in a first direction directed from the second roller toward the first roller
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying device includes: a housing having a conveyance path; a first roller disposed on the conveyance path; a second roller which is opposed to the first roller; a guide member whose state is changeable between a first state in which the guide member partly defines the conveyance path and a second state in which the guide member exposes the conveyance path; a roller holder supporting the second roller; an urging force applier configured to apply, to the second roller, an urging force in a first direction directed from the second roller toward the first roller; and an urging force adjuster configured to adjust the urging force to a first value when the guide member is in the first state and adjust the urging force to a second value when the guide member is in the second state, the second value being less than the first value.