Duplex Sheet Alignment via Oblique Roller and Curve Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the existing duplex conveyer system often results in incomplete sheet alignment due to uneven sheet conveyance, leading to conveying resistance and potential jamming, especially when the sheet enters the conveyer in an inclined orientation.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with an oblique conveyer roller and a curve guide, where the curve guide has different lengths within its width to ensure the leading edge reaches a predetermined part uniformly, and a reference guide corrects the sheet's widthwise position by guiding it towards the oblique conveyer roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a curve guide with different lengths within width is used to guide the sheet, then the leading edge can reach a predetermined part uniformly, but conveying resistance increases and jams occur
Solution Approach 1:
The curve guide is designed with different lengths within its width, creating local variations in the guiding surface. This allows different portions of the sheet's leading edge to reach the predetermined part at different timings, ensuring uniform arrival despite the sheet's inclined orientation, thereby improving sheet alignment accuracy without causing excessive conveying resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The curve guide is positioned upstream with respect to the oblique conveyer roller to preliminarily guide and orient the sheet before it reaches the main conveyance path. This preliminary action corrects the sheet's inclined orientation in advance, preventing misalignment issues downstream while maintaining smooth conveyance
2Manufacturing precision
If the sheet enters the duplex conveyer in an inclined orientation, then the oblique conveyer roller can thrust the sheet to correct widthwise position, but the sheet may not be completely turned to reach the reference guide
Solution Approach 1:
The problem of incomplete sheet turning in the widthwise direction is solved by introducing a longitudinal dimension element - the curve guide with varying lengths within width. This creates a three-dimensional guiding surface that simultaneously addresses both widthwise positioning and longitudinal orientation, ensuring the sheet is completely turned to reach the reference guide while maintaining ease of conveyance
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus, including a reference guide, an oblique conveyer roller, and a curve guide, is provided. The reference guide is arranged on one side in a widthwise direction with respect to a widthwise center in a sheet conveyer path and regulates a widthwise position of the sheet. The oblique conveyer roller applies a conveying force acting in a direction toward downstream along a conveying direction and toward the reference guide to the sheet. The curve guide is arranged upstream with respect to the oblique conveyer roller along the conveying direction and forms a curve. The curve guide includes an inner guide and an outer guide. The outer guide has a constant curvature throughout a width regardless of a widthwise position therein. The inner guide has a protrusive portion protruding toward the outer guide at a position on the other side in the widthwise direction with respect to the widthwise center.