Discharge Roller Inclination and Elastic Support for Sheet Stacking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet conveying devices in multi-function devices face issues with maintaining the original order of stacked sheets due to mechanical failures or aged roller surfaces, leading to paper jams and incorrect stacking order.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying device with a pair of discharge rollers and an elastic support piece in the discharge chute portion, where the discharge rollers are inclined to ensure proper alignment and stacking order, and an elastic support piece to guide the trailing edge of sheets, preventing them from being discharged between or on top of preceding sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional discharge rollers are used without inclination, then the structure is simple, but the sheets may be discharged in reverse order or become jammed when stacked high
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge rollers are arranged asymmetrically with the follower roller positioned upstream of the drive roller in the conveying direction, creating an inclined arrangement that prevents reverse discharge and jamming while maintaining simple structure
2Manufacturing precision
If the discharge chute portion has guides facing each other with gap, then sheet alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge chute portion is segmented into upper and lower guide surfaces that face each other with a predetermined gap, providing precise sheet alignment through divided guiding surfaces while maintaining relatively simple construction
3Reliability
If elastic support piece is added to support trailing edge, then sheet stacking reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic support piece utilizes elastic deformation to automatically support the trailing edge of discharged sheets, providing self-adjusting support without requiring complex control mechanisms while improving stacking reliability
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
Ensures accurate stacking order of sheets by preventing misalignment and jamming, maintaining the original order even with increased sheet stacks and aged roller surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic support piece that is provided in the discharge chute portion and supports a trailing edge of the sheet discharged to the discharge chute portion while elastically urging the trailing edge toward the upper discharge guide
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of discharge rollers is provided at a position most downstream in a conveying direction of a sheet conveying path defined by guide surfaces. The discharge rollers discharge a sheet from the sheet conveying path. A discharge chute portion, including upper and lower discharge guides, guides the discharged sheet toward a discharge tray. An elastic support piece is provided in the discharge chute portion and elastically urges a trailing edge of the discharged sheet toward the upper discharge guide. The pair of discharge rollers is arranged such that a direction in which the drive roller contacts the follower roller is inclined toward upstream in the conveying direction with respect to a direction of a normal line of a lower one of the guide surfaces that is located in the sheet conveying path at a position the most downstream in the conveying direction.