Curved Sheet Conveyance Guide Layout for Jam-Resistant Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses experience increased conveyance resistance and the risk of jams due to sheet stiffness in bent conveyance paths, particularly when multiple rollers are involved, leading to potential motor overload.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a movable outer guide in the curved conveyance path that intersects with a roller pair, allowing the guide to pivot between closed and open positions to relieve sheet curvature and reduce conveyance load, thereby minimizing the risk of jams and enabling miniaturization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sheet is conveyed through a bent conveyance path, then the sheet can be redirected to the first conveyance path, but the conveyance resistance increases due to sheet stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The outer guide is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position that is farther away from the inner guide than the first position. This dynamic adjustment allows the guide path to adapt to different sheet types and sizes, reducing conveyance resistance by optimizing the curvature radius of the bent conveyance path.
2Ease of operation
If multiple conveyance roller pairs are provided along the bent conveyance path, then the sheet can be conveyed through the curved path, but the conveyance load on the roller pairs increases
Solution Approach 1:
By making the outer guide movable, the system can dynamically adjust the conveyance path geometry to reduce the curvature radius, thereby reducing the conveyance load on the roller pairs and preventing motor overload.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyance resistance increases in the bent conveyance path, then the sheet can be conveyed through the curved path, but the risk of jam occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The movable outer guide allows dynamic optimization of the conveyance path to minimize frictional resistance and conveyance load, thereby reducing the risk of jams and improving conveyance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the geometric parameters of the conveyance path by adjusting the outer guide position, optimizing the curvature radius and angle to reduce conveyance resistance and prevent jams.
4Power
If a guide plate is retracted to reduce frictional resistance, then the conveyance load is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable outer guide provides a dynamic adjustment mechanism that optimizes the conveyance path geometry, reducing conveyance load while maintaining relatively simple device structure through straightforward mechanical movement.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, a curved conveyance path, a first roller pair, a second roller pair disposed along the curved conveyance path, an inner guide, and an outer guide opposing the inner guide, constituting at least part of the curved conveyance path between the first roller pair and the second roller pair together with the inner guide, and provided on an outer side in a curving direction of the curved conveyance path. A nip line of the first roller pair and a nip line of the second roller pair intersect with each other. The outer guide is movable between a first position and a second position that is farther away from the inner guide than the first position.