Movable Guide Member for Stable Sheet Conveyance in Merging Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image recording apparatuses face instability in conveying sheets when three conveyance paths merge, leading to potential erroneous pathways and increased apparatus size due to the need for a mechanism to move the guide member in conjunction with the tray guide.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a movable guide member that independently operates to ensure stable conveyance, featuring a first guide member that moves from a position closing the first conveyance path to opening the second and third paths, and vice versa, allowing for smooth guidance of sheets through merging paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guide member is used to close part of the main conveyance path to prevent erroneous conveyance, then conveyance reliability is improved, but the apparatus size increases due to the need for a mechanism to move the guide member in conjunction with the tray guide
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is segmented into multiple independent movable portions (first movable guide portion and second movable guide portion) that can move independently of each other. This segmentation eliminates the need for a complex coupled movement mechanism between the guide member and tray guide, thereby preventing apparatus size increase while maintaining conveyance reliability through independent path control.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable guide portions are designed to move automatically based on the presence or absence of a conveyed medium in the conveyance path, without requiring external control mechanisms. The guide member self-adjusts its position to either close or open conveyance paths depending on the operational state, eliminating the need for additional actuation mechanisms and reducing apparatus size.
2Reliability
If the guide member is kept at a position closing the first conveyance path, then erroneous conveyance is prevented, but sheet conveyance stability deteriorates when three conveyance paths merge
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member transitions from a static closed position to a dynamic state where it can be moved to different positions. The first movable guide portion and second movable guide portion can be independently positioned to either close or open specific conveyance paths. This dynamic adjustability allows the system to maintain erroneous conveyance prevention when needed while ensuring stable sheet conveyance through proper path configuration during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus including: a housing; first through third conveyance paths, the second and third paths merging with the first conveyance path at a joining position; and a first guide member disposed at the joining position, wherein (a) the first guide member is configured to be kept, in a normal state, at a first position at which the first guide member closes at least part of the first conveyance path and opens the second and third conveyance paths to the first conveyance path, at the joining position and (b) the first guide member is configured to be moved, by contacting a sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path, to a second position at which the first guide member opens the first conveyance path and closes at least part of the second conveyance path and at least part of the third conveyance path with respect to the first conveyance path.