Image Formation Apparatus Sheet Positioning Guide Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image formation apparatuses face challenges in achieving high accuracy in the relative positions between the guide and the photoconductive drum and the belt unit, leading to inaccurate positioning of the printing sheet, which affects image quality, and the implementation of mechanisms for accurate positioning increases manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
An image formation apparatus with a drawer casing that accommodates process units, a belt unit with a bridging surface, and a sheet tray, where the drawer casing is movable along a path parallel to the bridging surface, and a pair of rollers and guides are used to feed the sheet accurately onto the bridging surface, enhancing the positional accuracy between the guide and the photoconductive drum and the belt unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guide is provided on the movable cover to guide the printing sheet, then the cover can be opened and closed for maintenance and sheet loading, but the positional accuracy between the guide and the photoconductive drum/belt unit deteriorates due to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is segmented into two parts: a first guide attached to the movable drawer casing and a second guide attached to the stationary belt unit. This segmentation allows the drawer casing to move independently for maintenance access while the second guide remains stationary to maintain accurate positioning relative to the photoconductive drum and belt unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The first guide attached to the drawer casing acts as an intermediary element that guides the printing sheet from the movable drawer area toward the stationary second guide. This intermediary guide facilitates sheet transfer while the stationary second guide ensures final positioning accuracy at the critical interface with the photoconductive drum and belt unit.
2Manufacturing precision
If a mechanism for accurate positioning of the movable cover is implemented, then the positional accuracy improves, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is extracted from the movable cover/drawer casing system and assigned to the stationary second guide attached to the belt unit. By taking out the accuracy-critical positioning function from the movable component and placing it on a stationary component, the system achieves high positional accuracy without requiring complex positioning mechanisms on the movable drawer casing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the guide to the movable cover as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the approach by attaching the critical second guide to the stationary belt unit and the first guide to the movable drawer casing. This inversion places the accuracy-critical guide on the stationary side, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms on movable parts.
3Device complexity
If the guide is attached to the movable drawer casing, then the structure is simplified, but the sheet positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is divided into two guides: the first guide on the movable drawer casing provides initial sheet guidance with simple structure, while the second guide on the stationary belt unit provides final precise positioning. This segmentation allows each guide to have optimized functionality - the first guide can be simple and movable, while the second guide ensures accuracy at the critical transfer point.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality levels are applied to different parts of the guide system. The first guide on the movable drawer casing has simpler requirements since it only needs to guide sheets generally, while the second guide on the stationary belt unit has high precision requirements at the critical location where sheets are transferred to the photoconductive drum and belt unit.
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation apparatus has a belt unit and a drawer casing configured to accommodate the plurality of process units. The drawer casing is movable in a horizontal direction so that it is insertable in and/or drawable from a main body of the image formation apparatus. An openable cover for an opening formed on an end face of the drawer casing is provided. The drawer casing is arranged above an imaginary plane including the bridging surface of an endless belt, while a sheet tray is arranged below the imaginary plane. A pair of rollers is arranged on the sheet tray side with respect to the movable path and configured to feed the sheet fed from the sheet tray to the belt unit. A first guide and a second guide, which is provided opposite to the first guide with a predetermined clearance therebetween, are provided to form a sheet feed path.