Dual-Pivot Sheet Conveyance Door for Jam Access in Tight Spaces

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet conveyance apparatuses face maintainability issues due to the need to separate a heavy external sheet feeding unit to open the jam recovery door, which decreases usability and space efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A sheet conveyance apparatus with a door portion that includes a first and second pivot member, allowing the door to pivot around parallel pivot shafts, forming a conveyance path that reduces the need to separate the sheet feeding unit during opening and closing, enhancing maintainability and usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the jam recovery door is disposed to face the external sheet feeding unit, then the door can be opened to perform jam recovery, but the external sheet feeding unit must be separated from the apparatus main body which decreases maintainability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejam recovery accessibilityVSAvoidmaintainability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The door portion is divided into multiple segments: a fixed portion attached to the apparatus main body, a first pivot member that pivots relative to the apparatus main body, and a second pivot member that pivots relative to the first pivot member. This segmentation allows the door to achieve complex motion paths without requiring separation of the external sheet feeding unit, thereby improving maintainability while preserving jam recovery accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door portion employs dynamic pivot mechanisms with two pivot shafts that allow the door to change its position and orientation dynamically. The first pivot member rotates around a first pivot shaft, and the second pivot member rotates around a second pivot shaft, enabling the door to open without requiring separation of the external sheet feeding unit from the apparatus main body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the external sheet feeding unit is separated to open the jam recovery door, then jam recovery can be performed, but space is consumed and the heavy object must be moved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor opening capabilityVSAvoidspace consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The door portion utilizes dynamic pivot mechanisms with two pivot shafts that allow the door to change its position and orientation dynamically. The first pivot member rotates around a first pivot shaft, and the second pivot member rotates around a second pivot shaft, enabling the door to open without requiring separation of the external sheet feeding unit from the apparatus main body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single pivot mechanism is used for the door, then the structure is simple, but the door cannot open without separating the external sheet feeding unit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot mechanism structureVSAvoiddoor opening capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door portion employs two pivot shafts with different axes, adding rotational freedom in multiple dimensions. The first pivot member rotates around a first pivot shaft, and the second pivot member rotates around a second pivot shaft, enabling the door to open without requiring separation of the external sheet feeding unit from the apparatus main body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20260036939A1Sheet conveyance apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes an apparatus main body including a guide member that forms a conveyance path, and a door portion openable and closable and including a first pivot member pivoting around a first pivot shaft and a second pivot member coupled to the first pivot member with a second pivot shaft parallel to the first pivot shaft and pivoting around the second pivot shaft, wherein the second pivot member forms, with the guide member, a conveyance path through which the sheet passes when the door portion is closed, wherein, when the door portion is opened, the first pivot member pivots around the first pivot shaft, and the second pivot member, with the pivoting of the first pivot member, pivots around the second pivot shaft with respect to the first pivot shaft so that a leading end of the second pivot member approaches the first pivot shaft.