Guide Member Positioning for Separator Nip Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium conveying apparatuses face issues with sheet conveyance failures due to the guide sheet being caught in the nip portion, leading to inaccurate guide positioning and potential jams, especially when the guide sheet overlaps the retard roller.
Innovation Solution
A medium conveying apparatus with a separator that includes a conveying roller and a separation roller, where the conveying roller contacts the first surface of the medium and the separation roller contacts the second surface, allowing for a switchable separation and conveying state, and a guide member positioned to avoid overlapping the separator from the conveyance direction but overlap the nip range from the axial direction, ensuring accurate guidance and prevention of jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the guide sheet is provided at a position close to the nip portion to enhance guide accuracy, then guide accuracy is improved, but the leading end of the guide sheet may be caught in the nip portion causing sheet conveyance failure
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sheet is positioned in the axial direction (radial dimension relative to the separation roller) to overlap the nip range, while being offset in the conveyance direction so that its leading end does not coincide with the nip portion. This dimensional arrangement allows the guide sheet to provide accurate guidance without being caught in the nip portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide sheet acts as an intermediary element that guides the medium to the separator without directly interacting with the nip portion. By positioning the guide sheet to overlap the nip range axially but offset in the conveyance direction, it mediates the guidance function while avoiding harmful contact with the separation roller.
2Measurement precision
If the guide sheet overlaps the retard roller when viewed from the conveyance direction to improve guidance positioning, then guide accuracy is enhanced, but the guide sheet may be caught in the nip portion causing conveyance failure
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sheet is positioned to overlap the nip range in the axial direction while being offset in the conveyance direction. This dimensional arrangement allows the guide sheet to provide accurate guidance from above the separator without its leading end being caught in the nip portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide sheet is positioned with its leading end located at a specific position in the conveyance direction that is offset from the nip portion, while still overlapping the nip range in the axial direction. This local positioning creates a situation where the guide sheet provides guidance where needed without creating harmful interactions.
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 conveyance accuracy by allowing the medium to reach the nip range without leading-end contact with the separation roller, improving feeding efficiency and extending the life of the separation roller by guiding the medium effectively even when the separation roller rotates in reverse.
Implementation Method 1
The feed roller and the retard roller nip a medium at a nip portion, which is an example of a nip area, thereby separating and conveying a plurality of sheets one by one
Data Source
AI summary
A separator that separates a plurality of media to convey the medium, and at least one first guide member that guides the media to the separator are provided, the separator includes a conveying roller and a separation roller configured to nip the media in a nip range, and a tip of the first guide member that guides the media is located at a position that does not overlap the separator when viewed from a conveyance direction and that overlaps the nip range when viewed from an axial direction of the separation roller.