Movable Support Member for Image Forming Apparatus Jam Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses make it difficult for users to visually recognize the portion subject to jam processing, requiring the removal of the sheet tray and subsequent movement of the conveyance guide, which is cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus features a support member that is slidably movable between an accommodated and drawn position, exposing the conveying passage and allowing users to visually recognize jam processing areas with ease, reducing the need for multiple operations and improving accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sheet tray is removed and the conveyance guide is moved downward to enable jam processing, then the manual insertion conveying passage is opened, but the user cannot easily visually recognize the portion subject to jam processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by providing an opening in the front wall of the casing. This allows the user to access and visually recognize the conveying passage from the front direction, rather than requiring removal of the sheet tray from the bottom. The support member is drawn out through this front opening to expose the jam processing area, effectively changing the access dimension from bottom-up to front-back.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sheet supplying mechanism into a detachable support member that can be independently drawn out from the casing. This segmentation allows the conveying passage to be exposed without removing the entire sheet tray assembly, enabling targeted access to the jam processing area while leaving the sheet tray in place.
2Ease of operation
If the support member is made slidably movable between accommodated and drawn positions, then the conveying passage is easily exposed for jam processing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the support member slidably movable between an accommodated position (where it is inserted in the casing) and a drawn position (where it is pulled out through the front opening). This dynamic capability allows the conveying passage to be easily exposed for jam processing by simply sliding the support member, rather than requiring complete disassembly or complex mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the manual insertion tray is provided on the front wall side with a conveyance guide, then sheets can be conveyed from front to rear, but multiple operations are required to access the conveying passage for jam processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the support member with a second conveying guide that faces the first conveying guide when the support member is in the accommodated position. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the conveying passage is already in place and functional, and only requires a single drawing operation to expose for jam processing, rather than requiring multiple sequential operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic image forming method includes a casing having a front wall to which an opening is formed and a rear wall facing the front wall, a photosensitive drum located close to the front wall, a support member configured to support the photosensitive drum. The support member is slidably movable between an accommodated position a drawn position at which the photosensitive drum is drawn out of the casing through the opening. The image forming apparatus further includes a sheet tray, a feeding roller configured to feed the plurality of sheets supported by the sheet tray, a first conveying guide arranged between the support member and the sheet tray to face the support member, and a second conveying guide formed to the support member at a position facing the first conveying guide to guide the sheet inserted through the opening.