Dual-Layer Sheet Aligning Roller for Buckling-Free Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet alignment mechanisms in image forming apparatuses fail to effectively correct sheet inclination and positional deviation, leading to oblique image formation when sheets enter the image forming part at an angle.
Innovation Solution
A sheet aligning device comprising a conveying roller, a reference member, and an aligning roller with a dual-layer structure, where the second layer has lower hardness than the first layer, allowing the aligning roller to rotate and align the sheet against the reference member without buckling, thereby correcting inclination and positional deviation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a roller moves the sheet in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction to abut the sheet against the reference member, then the sheet alignment function is provided, but the sheet buckles before the other end is in contact with the reference member when the sheet is inclined, causing inclination correction to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning roller uses a dual-layer structure where the first layer has higher hardness and the second layer has lower hardness. This parameter change in hardness allows the softer second layer to deform and accommodate the inclined sheet during alignment, preventing buckling while the harder first layer maintains structural integrity. The differential hardness enables reliable inclination correction without sheet buckling.
2Manufacturing precision
If a single-layer roller is used for aligning the sheet, then the device complexity is low, but the roller cannot effectively handle inclined sheets without causing buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning roller is constructed as a composite structure with two layers of different hardness levels. The first layer provides structural support and durability, while the second layer with lower hardness provides compliance to handle inclined sheets without causing buckling. This composite material approach enables the roller to effectively align inclined sheets while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
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
The dual-layer aligning roller effectively aligns sheets with the reference member, ensuring accurate image formation by suppressing sheet inclination and positional errors, enhancing image quality.
Implementation Method 1
an aligning roller (41) which abuts the sheet (S) conveyed by the conveying roller (32) against the reference member (48). The aligning roller (41) has a shaft (41A), a first layer (41B1), and a second layer (41B2) provided between the shaft (41A) and the first layer (41B1) and having a hardness lower than that of the first layer (41B1)
Data Source
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AI summary
A sheet aligning device (6) includes a conveying roller (32), a reference member (48), and an aligning roller (41). The conveying roller (32) conveys a sheet along a conveyance path (10A) in a predetermined conveyance direction. The reference member (48) defines one boundary of the conveyance path (10A). By the aligning roller (41), the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller (32) is abutted against the reference member (48). The aligning roller (41) has a shaft (41A), a first layer (41B1), and a second layer (41B2) provided between the shaft (41A) and the first layer (41B1) and having a hardness lower than that of the first layer (41B1).