Medium Guide Mechanism With Solenoid Locking for Sheet Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transport devices in image forming apparatuses, such as copying machines, face issues with erroneous guidance of media due to reliance on springs for holding guide members in position, which can lead to inadequate force to prevent movement errors, especially when handling stiff media like cardboard, resulting in incorrect routing of sheets.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport device with a gate mechanism that includes a solenoid as a driving source and a second moving member that moves between positions to restrict or allow movement of the guide member, reducing erroneous guidance by ensuring the gate is locked in place with a combination of spring force and mechanical locking, thereby minimizing the need for continuous motor operation and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a spring is used to hold the guide member in position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of medium guidance deteriorates due to inadequate force to prevent movement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member positioning system is segmented into two independent components: a spring mechanism for basic positioning and a separate locking mechanism for secure fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the spring-based positioning system with a mechanical locking system into a hybrid positioning mechanism. The spring provides continuous positioning force while the locking mechanism engages at specific positions to prevent movement errors, combining the advantages of both simple spring mechanics and secure mechanical locking.
2Reliability
If a highly elastic spring is used to prevent guide member movement, then the guidance accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the high-force requirement from the spring mechanism by introducing a separate locking mechanism. Instead of relying on a highly elastic spring to provide all the necessary force, the locking mechanism takes out the function of preventing movement errors, allowing the use of a simpler, less elastic spring while maintaining high guidance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the spring and the guide member. It transfers and amplifies the positioning function, allowing a simple spring to achieve reliable positioning through the mediating action of the locking mechanism that engages at precise positions to prevent movement.
3Reliability
If a motor is continuously operated to maintain guide member position, then the guidance accuracy is improved, but the energy consumption and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously, engaging and disengaging at specific moments to maintain guide member position. This periodic action replaces continuous motor operation, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining guidance accuracy through mechanical locking at critical positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-based positioning system with mechanical locking is a self-service mechanism that maintains guide member position without requiring continuous external energy input. The spring provides continuous positioning force and the locking mechanism automatically engages to prevent movement errors, eliminating the need for continuous motor operation.
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
The solution effectively reduces erroneous guidance of recording sheets while maintaining cost-effectiveness by using a combination of spring force and mechanical locking, preventing unnecessary motor operation and noise, and ensuring accurate sheet routing without the need for highly elastic springs.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid mechanism (30)
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transport device includes a medium guide member, a driving source, a first movement member, a movement restricting member, and a second moving member. The medium guide member is movable between a first guide position, in which the medium guide member guides a medium toward a receiving member on which the medium is loaded, and a second guide position, in which the medium guide member guides the medium from the receiving member into the device. The driving source moves the medium guide member. The first movement member moves the medium guide member in accordance with an operation of the driving source. The movement restricting member is movable together with the medium guide member. The second moving member is movable between a first position, in which the second moving member is located close to the movement restricting member to restrict the medium guide member from moving from the second guide position to the first guide position, and a second position, in which the second moving member is spaced apart from the movement restricting member to allow the medium guide member to move to the first guide position. The second moving member moves from the first position to the second position when the medium guide member moves toward the first guide position in response to an operation of the driving source.