Lift Plate Positioning for Duplex Sheet Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in synchronizing sheet delivery and image formation processes, particularly during duplex printing, leading to overlapping sheets and inefficient sheet handling.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a sheet feeding cassette with a lift plate that changes positions between a sheet feeding and retracting position, controlled by a driving section, and a reverse conveying path to manage sheet flow, ensuring precise timing and preventing sheet overlap through a driving control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sheet feeding cassette is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but sheet handling efficiency deteriorates during duplex printing
Solution Approach 1:
The lift plate is made movable between a raised position (where sheets contact the delivery member) and a lowered position (where sheets are retracted), allowing dynamic control of sheet feeding timing. This dynamic mechanism enables a single cassette to handle duplex printing efficiently by preventing sheet overlap without requiring multiple cassettes.
2Productivity
If the delivery member continuously feeds sheets, then productivity is improved, but sheet overlap and jamming occur
Solution Approach 1:
The lift plate operates periodically, moving between raised and lowered positions in synchronization with the duplex printing cycle. During reverse conveying of the first sheet, the lift plate lowers to retract sheets, creating a periodic pause in feeding. This periodic action prevents sheet overlap while maintaining overall productivity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple driving sections are used for different timings, then sheet conveying precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple driving functions (delivery member driving, conveying member driving, and lift plate driving) are merged into a single driving section. The single driving section controls all components through a unified mechanism, achieving precise timing coordination without the complexity of multiple independent driving sections.
4Ease of operation
If the lift plate remains in sheet feeding position, then ease of operation is improved, but sheet jamming occurs during reverse conveying
Solution Approach 1:
The lift plate is lowered to the sheet retracting position in advance before the reverse conveying operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that sheets are retracted from the delivery member before the reverse conveying starts, preventing jamming while maintaining ease of operation during normal feeding.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet feeding cassette, an image forming section, a delivery member, a conveying member, a lift plate, a driving section, a first switching section, a second switching section, and a driving control section. The conveying member is disposed in the reverse conveying path. The lift plate is enabled to change a position thereof between a sheet feeding position and a retracting position. The first switching section transmits the driving force to the delivery member and the conveying member. The second switching section transmits the driving force to the lift plate. The driving control section controls the first switching section, with the lift plate being placed in the sheet feeding position, to rotate the delivery member, and when the sheet is conveyed through the reverse conveying path, moves the lift plate from the sheet feeding position to the retracting position.