Movable Guiding Member for Narrowing Feeding Path in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in preventing user contact with hot fixing portions while maintaining image quality, as reducing the gap between top and bottom components to avoid contact can lead to image damage and toner adherence.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a guiding member and openable member that narrows the feeding path when accessed, allowing safe maintenance while maintaining image quality by adjusting the gap between guiding components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between top and bottom components of the sheet conveyance passage is reduced to prevent user contact with hot portions, then user safety is improved, but the image bearing surface of the sheet comes into contact with the components causing image quality reduction and toner adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the gap between top and bottom components to change dynamically. When the openable member is opened for maintenance, the guiding member moves to narrow the feeding path, creating a safe barrier against hot portions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the gap size to different operational states without compromising image quality during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between top and bottom components is excessively small to ensure safety, then user safety is improved, but the sheet guiding components contact the image bearing surface causing toner adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding member moves only when the openable member is opened, creating a narrow feeding path that blocks user access to hot portions during maintenance. During normal sheet conveyance, the guiding member maintains its original position with sufficient gap to prevent toner adherence while still providing safety. This conditional movement resolves the contradiction between safety and preventing toner adherence.
3Ease of repair
If multiple doors are provided to allow operator access for removing jammed sheets, then ease of maintenance is improved, but the gap between top and bottom components must be enlarged creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The access mechanism is segmented into two independent parts: the openable member for door access and the movable guiding member for gap adjustment. This segmentation allows the guiding member to move and narrow the feeding path independently when the openable member is opened, providing operator access to remove jammed sheets while simultaneously creating a safety barrier against hot portions. This resolves the contradiction by decoupling access provision from safety hazard creation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for fixing an image on a recording material while feeding the recording material carrying the image; a guiding member, provided downstream of the fixing portion with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material, for guiding the recording material; and an openable member for opening and closing a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, wherein the guiding member moves to narrow a feeding path of the recording material when the openable member is opened.