Curved Guide Surface for Paper Transport Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing impact noise caused by stiff paper sheets due to abrupt changes in transport paths, which can lead to flapping and noise during the corrugation and output process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a switching member with guide surfaces that smoothly guide paper sheets along curved transport paths, incorporating a corrugation unit and rotatable switching gate to prevent step formations and ensure continuous sheet alignment, thereby reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the medium transport path has an abrupt change at the branching position, then the switching member can effectively switch between paths, but the medium experiences impact noise and flapping due to sudden direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is designed with a curved shape that gradually changes the transport direction of the medium from the first path to the second path. This curvature eliminates abrupt directional changes, allowing the medium to follow a smooth arc-shaped trajectory through the branching position, thereby reducing impact noise and flapping while maintaining effective path switching capability
2Manufacturing precision
If the medium is corrugated during output, then the stacking quality is improved, but the corrugated medium may flap and cause noise during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide surface provides gradual directional change that prevents sudden bending of the corrugated medium, reducing flapping and associated noise while maintaining the corrugation structure necessary for stacking quality
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface parameters (curvature radius, length, and profile) are specifically designed to match the corrugated medium's physical characteristics, allowing smooth transport that maintains corrugation integrity while minimizing flapping and noise generation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the transport path is curved to reduce noise, then impact noise is suppressed, but the transport path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide surface is implemented only at the critical branching position where directional change occurs, rather than curving the entire transport path. This localized curvature application suppresses impact noise at the most problematic location while minimizing the overall increase in transport path length
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes plural medium transport paths that branch at a predetermined branching position and along which a medium is transported in a curved state; a switching member disposed at the branching position and including a guide surface that allows the medium to be transported along one of the medium transport paths, the switching member switching between the medium transport paths; an output unit that outputs the medium toward a stacking portion, on which the medium is to be stacked, while corrugating the medium; and a guide portion that guides the medium from the branching position toward the output unit in a region in which the medium is corrugated.