Movable Guide Sheet Conveyance Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveying systems, particularly in image reading and forming apparatuses, face challenges in maintaining stable orientation of sheets due to skew feeding issues that occur both upstream and downstream of registration roller pairs, leading to incomplete correction of document skewness and potential image distortion.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a movable guide that extends both upstream and downstream of the nip portion of the registration roller pair, which includes a first guide opposing one side of the sheet and a second guide opposing the opposite side, allowing the downstream portion of the movable guide to move closer to or away from the second guide, thereby stabilizing the sheet orientation and preventing skew feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a registration roller pair unit is disposed to correct skew feeding, then skew feeding at the registration position is improved, but skew feeding occurs downstream of the registration roller pair unit
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is divided into multiple segments: a first guide portion upstream of the registration roller pair, a second guide portion downstream, and a movable guide portion. Each segment performs a specific function in controlling sheet orientation at different locations along the conveyance path, thereby resolving the contradiction by addressing skew feeding issues in distinct zones rather than relying on a single registration roller pair unit.
2Device complexity
If the sheet conveyance path is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but skew feeding control becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to sheet characteristics and conveyance conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise sheet orientation control without requiring a complex fixed structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between device complexity and orientation control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveyance section, a roller pair unit, first and second guides, and a movable guide including an upstream portion extending upstream in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the nip portion and a downstream portion extending downstream in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the nip portion. The roller pair unit nips the sheet, warps the sheet in a case where a leading end of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance section comes into contact with the roller pair unit, and conveys the sheet. The first guide opposes a first side of the sheet and guides the sheet. The second guide opposes a second side of the sheet. The movable guide opposes the first side of the sheet and moves in such a manner that the downstream portion of the movable guide moves closer to or away from the second guide.