Detachable Conveying Guide for Fixing Device Jam Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently handling sheet jamming near the fixing device, particularly due to the risk of sheets being wound around the fixing belt, which can lead to conveying failures and require complex disassembly for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a conveying guide and branching guide system that allows for the detachment of the conveying guide from the fixing device, enabling easy access and removal of jammed sheets without disassembling the fixing device, along with an opening/closing guide to facilitate maintenance, thereby simplifying the jamming processing and preventing damage to the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conveying guide is fixed to the apparatus main body, then the sheet conveying is stable, but the jammed sheet removal requires complex disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying guide is divided into a fixed portion attached to the apparatus main body and a movable portion that can be detached from the fixing device. This segmentation allows the movable portion to be easily removed for jammed sheet access while the fixed portion remains in place, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying guide transitions from a completely fixed structure to a dynamic structure where the movable portion can be detached. This dynamic design enables easy access to jammed sheets by simply removing the movable portion, eliminating the need for complex disassembly while maintaining stability during normal operation.
2Ease of repair
If the conveying guide covers the fixing device, then the fixing device is protected, but maintenance access is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying guide is segmented into fixed and movable portions, where the movable portion can be detached to provide maintenance access to the fixing device. This segmentation maintains protection during normal operation while enabling easy maintenance when needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of repair.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sheet path is fixed, then the conveying is stable, but the sheet cannot be redirected for inversion
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet path incorporates a movable guide portion that can be detached and repositioned to create different conveying paths. This dynamic design allows the sheet to be redirected to the inversion path when needed while maintaining a stable fixed path for normal operation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a fixing device, a conveying guide and a branching guide. In the apparatus main body, a conveying path and an inversion path are formed. The conveying guide guides the sheet along the conveying path closer to a downstream side than the fixing device. The branching guide guides the sheet toward an ejecting part along the conveying path closer to the downstream side than the fixing device and guides the sheet toward the inversion path along the conveying path closer to the downstream side than the fixing device. The conveying guide is detachably attached to one of the apparatus main body and the fixing device so as to cover a part of the fixing device from a downstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet. The branching guide is detachably attached to the conveying guide.