Direct Pickup Roller Paper Transfer Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses are bulky and costly due to a long paper path and the need for a dedicated feeding roller, which increases the number of parts and material costs.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that directly transfers paper picked up by a pickup roller to a photoconductive medium, reducing the paper moving path and omitting the feeding roller by synchronizing the rotational speed of the pickup roller with the photoconductive medium, ensuring efficient paper transfer without slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated feeding roller is provided to transfer paper from the pickup roller to the photoconductive medium, then the paper transfer function is reliable, but the apparatus size increases and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the dedicated feeding roller from the conventional paper transfer mechanism. By making the pickup roller directly responsible for both picking up paper and transferring it to the photoconductive medium, the design removes unnecessary components while maintaining the essential paper transfer function, thereby reducing apparatus size without compromising reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pickup roller is designed to perform multiple functions: it both picks up paper from the paper supply and directly transfers it to the photoconductive medium. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate feeding roller, reducing the number of parts and material costs while maintaining reliable paper transfer through synchronized rotational speed control
2Reliability
If a dedicated feeding roller is provided to transfer paper, then the paper transfer function is reliable, but the number of parts increases and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the dedicated feeding roller from the conventional paper transfer mechanism. By making the pickup roller directly responsible for both picking up paper and transferring it to the photoconductive medium, the design removes unnecessary components while maintaining the essential paper transfer function, thereby reducing apparatus size without compromising reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pickup roller is designed to perform multiple functions: it both picks up paper from the paper supply and directly transfers it to the photoconductive medium. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate feeding roller, reducing the number of parts and material costs while maintaining reliable paper transfer through synchronized rotational speed control
3Reliability
If the paper path is made long to accommodate conventional components, then the paper transfer is reliable, but the apparatus becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the paper picking function and paper transfer function into a single integrated mechanism. The pickup roller directly transfers paper to the photoconductive medium without intermediate feeding rollers, shortening the paper path and reducing apparatus bulk while maintaining reliable paper transfer through direct contact and synchronized motion
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 minimizes the apparatus size and reduces material costs by shortening the paper path and eliminating the need for a feeding roller, while maintaining efficient paper transfer and image formation.
Implementation Method 1
A pickup roller picks up the paper stacked on the paper supplying part
Implementation Method 2
A photoconductive medium forms thereon an electrostatic latent image using the light from the laser scanning unit
Implementation Method 3
A transferring roller forms a transfer nip in tight contact with the photoconductive medium and transfers the developer attached on the photoconductive medium onto a paper passing through the transfer nip
Implementation Method 4
The toner image transferred onto the paper is fixed by heat and pressure of a fusing roller
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a laser scanning unit that irradiates a light. A photoconductive medium forms thereon an electrostatic latent image using the light from the laser scanning unit. A developing roller transfers a developer onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image. A transferring roller forms a transfer nip in tight contact with the photoconductive medium and transfers the developer attached on the photoconductive medium onto a paper passing through the transfer nip. A paper supplying part stacks the paper thereon. A pickup roller picks up the paper stacked on the paper supplying part. A paper edge sensor senses a top edge of the paper picked up by the pickup roller. The paper picked up by the pickup roller is directly supplied toward the transfer nip. A paper moving path is reduced, thereby minimizing the whole size of the image forming apparatus. Also, the number of parts is reduced, thereby decreasing material costs.