Elastic Rollers for Image Forming Apparatus Noise and Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paper feed devices for image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing noise leakage and efficiently removing jammed papers due to the design of paper receive rollers, which compromise quietness and paper feed performance.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a paper feed device with a pair of elastic rollers attached to the drive shaft, which cover the space between the upper and lower guide plates, providing noise reduction and acting as paper pressing rollers to flatten warped papers, while also being easily deformable for jammed-paper removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the paper receive rollers are made from resin and expanded along the drive shaft to have a long cylindrical shape, then noise reduction performance is improved, but spaces around the rollers are reduced making it difficult to remove jammed paper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise leakageVSAvoidjammed-paper removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid resin to elastic rubber, and changes the dimensional parameter by making the rollers expandable. This allows the rollers to be compressed during assembly to create space for jammed paper removal, then expand during operation to seal the opening for noise reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the rollers dynamic by using elastic material that can change its volume. The rollers can be compressed when needed for jammed paper removal, then return to their expanded state for normal operation to seal gaps and reduce noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the paper receive rollers are made with rigid material, then paper feed performance is maintained, but noise reduction performance deteriorates due to spaces around the rollers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper feed performanceVSAvoidnoise leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid to elastic, allowing the rollers to deform and seal gaps effectively, thereby reducing noise while maintaining the paper feed function through elastic contact pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses elastic rubber material that combines the benefits of flexibility for sealing and elasticity for maintaining contact pressure, effectively replacing rigid materials while achieving both noise reduction and reliable paper feeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the opening on the transfer frame is made substantially narrowed, then noise reduction is improved, but paper feed performance and jammed-paper removal are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise leakageVSAvoidpaper feed performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses elastic rollers that can flex and deform to adapt to the opening size. The rollers can be compressed to allow paper feed and jammed paper removal, then expand to seal the opening for noise reduction, effectively using flexible material to solve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

This configuration enhances quietness by reducing noise leakage, improves paper feed performance by flattening warped papers, and facilitates easy removal of jammed papers, maintaining effective noise reduction and paper handling.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of elastic rollers that are attached to the drive shaft on either side of the paper feed roller coaxially with the paper feed roller, and formed long so as to cover a space between the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9434184B2Paper feed device for image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 RISO KAGAKU CORP

AI summary

A paper feed device is disposed near an opening formed on a housing of for an image forming apparatus. The paper feed device includes a paper feed tray on which papers can be stacked, upper and lower guide plates disposed on a downstream side from the opening to form a paper transfer path therebetween, a drive shaft extended along a paper width direction perpendicular to the paper transfer direction, a paper feed roller attached to the drive shaft for feeding out a paper from the paper feed tray to the paper feed path, and a pair of elastic rollers coaxially attached to the drive shaft on either side of the paper feed roller. The pair of elastic rollers covers a space between the upper and lower guide plates. Each diameter of the elastic rollers is made slightly smaller than a diameter of the paper feed roller.