Guide Plate for Curled Media in Image Forming Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses face issues with curled media contacting the development device housing, leading to toner image scraping and potential jams, especially when using recycled or special sheets that generate significant curls.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a guide part, such as a guide plate, that regulates the contact of the curled medium with the development device housing and guides it to a carrying path, preventing scraping of the unfixed toner image by positioning it to avoid contact with the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If pressure is applied to the medium by various rollers to form the toner image, then the toner image can be formed on the medium, but the medium becomes curled and cannot be correctly carried to the fuser

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner image formationVSAvoidmedium curling

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A guide part is introduced as an intermediary component between the development device and the fuser. This guide part specifically guides the curled medium to the correct carrying path, preventing the medium from contacting the housing and ensuring proper transport to the fuser while maintaining the toner image formation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the medium is exited from the development device, then the toner image transfer is complete, but the curled medium contacts the housing and scrapes the unfixed toner image

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage transfer completionVSAvoidtoner image scraping

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide part serves as a protective intermediary that intercepts the curled medium immediately after it exits the development device. By guiding the medium along a controlled path, it prevents direct contact with the housing that would cause toner image scraping, while allowing complete image transfer to occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide part performs a preliminary guiding action immediately after the medium exits the development device, before the medium can contact the housing and cause damage. This preliminary intervention prevents the harmful scraping effect while allowing the image transfer process to complete

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If recycled sheet or special sheet is used as media, then diverse media types can be processed, but large curl is generated causing medium to contact housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia type compatibilityVSAvoidmedium curling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guide part is designed to handle various media types with different curl characteristics. By providing a universal guiding mechanism that accommodates different degrees of curl, the system can process recycled sheets, special sheets, and other media types without causing image scraping or jams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8971789B2Development device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

A development device includes a development part configured to develop a developer image on a surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier based on an image signal, a transfer part configured to transfer the developer image to a medium; and a guide part configured to regulate a contact of the medium, on which the developer image has been transferred and been exited, to a housing of the development part, and to guide the medium to a carrying path.