Pivotable Guide Member for Sheet Conveyance Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet conveying apparatuses face issues with guide member damage during mounting and misalignment of sheet conveying paths between the sheet feed apparatus and the image forming apparatus, leading to inefficiencies in sheet conveyance and potential foreign matter intrusion.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a pivotably supported guide member that can change positions between following the top face and projecting upward to guide sheets into the main conveying path, preventing damage during mounting and ensuring proper alignment and conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guide member is fixed to project from the top face portion of the sheet feed apparatus, then sheets can be properly guided into the image forming apparatus, but the guide member is vulnerable to damage during mounting and disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to pivot between a projected position (when the apparatus is assembled) and a retracted position (during mounting/disassembly). This dynamic configuration protects the guide member from damage while maintaining its guiding function during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed to automatically move to a protected position before mounting or disassembly operations occur, preventing potential damage in advance. The movable connection allows the guide member to be retracted when the sheet feed apparatus is separated from the image forming apparatus.
2Manufacturing precision
If the guide member projects upward from the top face portion, then sheet conveyance alignment is improved, but foreign matter can intrude into the conveying path when the apparatus is disassembled
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member moves dynamically between projected and retracted positions. When the sheet feed apparatus is disassembled from the image forming apparatus, the guide member automatically moves to a retracted position that closes the conveying path, preventing foreign matter from entering while maintaining alignment precision during assembled operation.
3Reliability
If the guide member is made movable to prevent damage during mounting, then guide member durability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is connected via a simple movable connection that allows pivoting between two positions. This dynamic mechanism provides protection during mounting while maintaining conveying precision during operation, achieving reliability improvement with minimal added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing, a sheet storage portion, a sheet conveying path, and a guide member. Housing is mounted to apparatus body that includes bottom portion having opening portion, and main sheet conveying path extending upward from opening portion to convey sheets, and includes top face portion arranged opposing bottom portion. Sheet conveying path extends from sheet storage portion to top face portion, and is configured to be capable of communicating with main sheet conveying path. Sheets are conveyed on sheet conveying path. Guide member is pivotably supported by housing, and is configured to be capable of changing its position between a first position where guide member follows along top face portion and a second position where guide member projects upward from top face portion to guide sheet toward main sheet conveying path from sheet conveying path.