Nip Guide Plate Structure for Quiet Sheet Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for guiding sheets in conveyance systems, such as inkjet printing apparatuses, often result in rear-end collision noise and damage due to uneven contact with rollers, particularly in mesh rollers or curved paths, and rib-shaped guides suffer from durability issues.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance apparatus with a nip guide that holds a driven roller and includes a guide plate expanding in the width and conveyance direction, guided by a biasing member to ensure consistent alignment, reducing wear and enhancing durability, thereby guiding sheets towards the nip area between rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rib-shaped guides are used to guide sheets, then sheet guidance is achieved, but durability and strength are low due to small contact surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate extends in the width direction of the medium, adding a dimensional aspect to the guidance structure. This expansion increases the contact surface area between the guide and the medium, thereby improving durability and strength while maintaining effective sheet guidance.
2Productivity
If the leading end of sheet is guided to driven roller side, then sheet conveyance is achieved, but rear-end collision noise occurs due to uneven contact
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate is positioned to guide the leading end of the sheet to the nip area of the rollers in advance. This preliminary guidance ensures that the sheet enters the nip area smoothly and evenly, preventing rear-end collision noise while maintaining efficient sheet conveyance.
3Strength
If guide thickness is increased to enhance durability, then guide strength is improved, but medium cannot be guided near nip area
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing thickness in one dimension, the guide plate expands in the width direction, adding a new dimensional aspect. This approach increases the contact surface area and durability while maintaining the ability to guide the medium precisely near the nip area, avoiding the trade-off between thickness and guidance precision.
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
This design effectively prevents rear-end collision noise and damage by ensuring consistent sheet guidance, reducing noise levels by 0.4 dB and enhancing guide durability, while maintaining consistent sheet alignment and reducing thickness.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body configured to bias the nip guide and the one roller such that the one roller is pressed against the other roller between the pair of rollers
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance apparatus includes: a pair of rollers configured to convey a medium while nipping the medium; a nip guide configured to hold one roller between the pair of rollers and guide the medium toward the pair of rollers; and an elastic body configured to bias the nip guide and the one roller such that the one roller is pressed against the other roller between the pair of rollers, wherein the nip guide includes a guide plate that spreads in a width direction of the medium and a conveyance direction of the medium and guides the medium toward the pair of rollers.