Pivoting Guide Members for Sheet Jam Prevention in Compact Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image recording apparatuses that record images on both surfaces of a sheet face issues with sheet jamming and noise due to unstable sheet behavior when opening the transporting path, particularly in compact designs where the radius of the turnaround is smaller.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a system of pivoting guide members that allow the first and second transporting paths to be accessible, eliminating gaps and ensuring smooth sheet transport by switching the positions of guide members and ensuring contact between the pivoting front-end of the fifth guide member and the first guide member, thereby preventing sheet jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If guide members are made rotatable or removable to open the transporting path, then the transporting path becomes accessible for jamming elimination, but gaps are developed between guide members causing unstable sheet behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are designed to pivot between a first position (defining the transporting path) and a second position (opening the transporting path). This dynamic positioning allows the transporting path to be accessible when needed while maintaining a continuous guiding surface during normal operation, eliminating gaps that cause unstable sheet behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
A fifth guide member is introduced as an intermediary element that contacts the first guide member when both are in their first positions. This intermediary ensures continuous guidance of the sheet even when the transporting path is open, preventing gaps from causing sheet instability or noise.
2Volume of moving object
If the radius of turnaround of the transporting path is made smaller for compact design, then the apparatus size is reduced, but sheet behavior becomes unstable and paper jams occur
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting guide members dynamically adjust to maintain proper sheet guidance through the curved portion even with a small turnaround radius. When the transporting path is open, the guide members can still provide continuous guidance, enabling compact design without sacrificing sheet transport stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fifth guide member acts as an intermediary that ensures continuous guidance through the curved portion of the transporting path. This allows the apparatus to maintain a small turnaround radius for compactness while preventing sheet instability and paper jams through continuous guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes an apparatus main-body, a tray, a first transporting path including a curved portion and an extending portion connected to the curved portion, a feed roller which feeds a sheet from the tray to the first transporting path, a transporting roller which transports the sheet, a recording portion which records an image on the sheet transported through the extending portion, a first guide member defining an outer wall of the curved portion, a second guide member defining an inner wall of the curved portion, a second transporting path which connects a portion of the extending portion and a portion of the curved portion, a third guide member defining an upper wall of the second transporting path, a fourth guide member defining a lower wall of the second transporting path, and a fifth guide member provided to a rotating front-end side of the fourth guide member.