Print Medium Guide Unit and Vibration Damper for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the bottom part of the print medium often vibrates or shakes due to changes in direction, leading to defects in picture quality and potential jamming, especially when not guided by a guide member.
Innovation Solution
A structure comprising a guide unit that changes the travel direction of the print medium from the feeding direction to the take-in direction, combined with a vibration damper to prevent shaking, is implemented. The guide unit includes a guide plate and optionally a guide film, while the vibration damper features a regulation plate or member that relieves the print medium from vibrations without obstructing its travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the print medium is supplied from a medium feeding unit with a change in direction to achieve the desired take-in angle, then the taken-in direction of the print medium is corrected, but the bottom part of the print medium vibrates or shakes causing image dislocation or blur
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the medium feeding unit and the transfer nip. This guide member stabilizes the bottom part of the print medium during direction change, preventing vibration and shaking while maintaining the required take-in angle for proper image transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is positioned to act on the bottom part of the print medium before it enters the transfer nip. By providing preliminary guidance and stabilization in the direction change region, the print medium is prepared in advance to maintain stability during the critical transfer process, preventing image dislocation and blur.
2Area of stationary object
If the print medium direction is changed without a guide member, then the layout space is optimized, but the bottom part of the print medium becomes free to vibrate and shake
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is segmented from the main transfer mechanism. Instead of using a large guide structure that would occupy layout space, a dedicated guide member is introduced only where needed at the bottom part of the print medium, providing localized guidance without interfering with the overall compact layout of the image forming apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
Guidance is applied locally only to the bottom part of the print medium where vibration occurs, rather than constraining the entire print medium. This localized approach maintains the necessary stability for image transfer while preserving the optimized layout space and allowing free movement of other parts of the print medium.
3Manufacturing precision
If a guide member is added to stabilize the bottom part of the print medium, then image quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is extracted as a separate, simple guide member rather than being integrated into a complex guiding system. This extracted guide member focuses solely on stabilizing the bottom part of the print medium, achieving improved image quality with minimal additional complexity compared to a comprehensive guiding structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing guidance for the entire print medium, the guide member applies partial action only to the bottom part where vibration occurs. This partial guidance is sufficient to prevent image dislocation and blur, achieving the necessary manufacturing precision without the complexity of a full-guidance system.
Data Source
AI summary
A structure to guide a take-in direction of a print medium to be taken in a carrying part where the print medium is carried, the structure includes: a guide unit which changes a travel direction of the print medium from a feeding direction, in which the print medium is supplied from a medium feeding unit, to the take-in direction of the print medium; and a vibration damper which prevents a bottom part of the print medium from shaking and vibrating when the print medium is free from the guide unit.