Displaceable Transport Guides for Sheet Skew Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet transport devices face challenges in reducing skewing or distortion of sheets as they pass through pairs of transport rollers, particularly when these rollers are moved in an axial direction, leading to improper image formation on the sheets.
Innovation Solution
The sheet transport device incorporates pairs of movable transport rollers that can move axially, with displaceable transport guides that widen the transport spaces between rollers, allowing the sheet to adjust and reduce distortion by accommodating the movement of the rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pairs of movable transport rollers are moved in the axial direction to correct sheet position, then sheet position accuracy is improved, but skewing or distortion of the sheet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport guides are designed to be displaceable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position in response to roller movement. This dynamic adaptation enables the guides to maintain proper alignment with the moved rollers, preventing sheet distortion while still allowing position correction
Solution Approach 2:
The transport guide system is divided into multiple displaceable segments (individual guides) that can move independently. This segmentation allows each guide to adapt locally to roller position changes, preventing cumulative distortion effects that would occur with a rigid fixed guide system
2Reliability
If multiple pairs of transport rollers are used to transport the sheet, then transport reliability is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each pair of transport rollers serves multiple functions: they provide transport force, enable axial position correction, and work in conjunction with displaceable guides to prevent distortion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, offsetting the complexity increase from using multiple roller pairs
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet transport device includes a pair of movable transport rollers capable of transporting a sheet while holding the sheet and capable of moving in an axial direction crossing a transportation direction; pairs of first transport rollers disposed at a distance from each other upstream from the pair of movable transport rollers in the transportation direction to transport the sheet while holding the sheet; and pairs of first transport guides disposed to define sheet transport spaces between the pair of movable transport rollers and the pairs of first transport rollers and between the pairs of first transport rollers. When the pair of movable transport rollers is moved in the axial direction, at least one of the pairs of first transport rollers is displaced in a direction to widen the transport space.