Pick-up Roller with Feed Section for Compact Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses have a complex structure and increased height due to the need for a separate feed roller to generate sufficient sheet feeding pressure, which complicates the installation and operation of the pick-up and registration processes.
Innovation Solution
A pick-up roller with a sector shape, featuring a pick-up section at the front and a feed section at the rear, capable of imparting both pick-up and feed pressures, eliminates the need for a separate feed roller by generating the necessary pressure to rotate the regi-shutter and advance the sheet between the regi-rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a separate feed roller is installed between the pick-up roller and regi-roller to generate sufficient sheet feeding pressure, then the sheet feeding pressure requirement is met, but the device structure becomes complicated and the height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the feed roller and pick-up roller into a single integrated roller structure. The pick-up roller is equipped with both a pick-up section (with first contact portion) and a feed section (with second contact portion), eliminating the need for a separate feed roller while maintaining the capability to generate sufficient sheet feeding pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pick-up roller is designed to perform multiple functions: it both picks up the sheet from the sheet feeding tray and generates the sheet feeding pressure required to rotate the regi-shutter and advance the sheet between regi-rollers. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components needed.
2Force
If a separate feed roller is installed to generate sufficient sheet feeding pressure, then the sheet feeding pressure requirement is met, but the apparatus height increases to ensure installation space
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the feed roller functionality into the pick-up roller, the vertical space required for a separate feed roller installation is eliminated, thereby reducing the overall apparatus height while still providing sufficient sheet feeding pressure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pick-up roller uses uniform contact pressure along its surface, then the structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously provide sufficient pick-up pressure and feed pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The pick-up roller is designed with non-uniform contact pressure distribution along its surface. The pick-up section (first contact portion) provides one pressure level for picking up the sheet, while the feed section (second contact portion) provides a different pressure level for generating sheet feeding pressure. This local quality variation enables the single roller to perform both functions effectively.
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 simplifies the structure and reduces the height of the image forming apparatus while ensuring sufficient sheet feeding pressure to initiate and maintain the sheet's movement through the registration process, eliminating the need for a separate feed roller.
Implementation Method 1
a pick-up roller to pick up a sheet... the pick-up roller comprises a pick-up section to pick up the sheet and a feed section to deliver to the sheet a sheet feeding pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus equipped with a pick-up roller to pick up a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, in which sheets are stacked, and a pick-up roller to pick up sheet from the sheet feeding tray. The pick-up roller includes a pick- up section to pick up the sheet and a feed section to deliver a sheet feeding pressure greater than that of the pick-up section to the sheet, so that a component corresponding to a feed roller can be removed, thereby simplifying the structure of the image forming apparatus and lowering the height of the image forming apparatus.