Re-conveying Unit Roller Inclination and Regulating Member
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The degradation of imaging quality in image forming apparatuses due to wear and adhesion of rubber from the re-conveying unit's rollers onto the sheet over time, caused by the interaction between the rubber and harder material rollers.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a re-conveying unit with a first roller made of rubber and a second roller made of a harder material, where the second roller is inclined and urged by a pressing member, and a regulating member restricts the displacement of the second roller's end portion to prevent uneven wear and contact with the first roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the second roller is made from material more rigid than rubber and is urged toward the first roller, then the re-conveying unit can effectively convey the sheet, but the rubber from the first roller wears and adheres onto the sheet degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
A regulating member is introduced as an intermediary element between the second roller and the first roller. This regulating member restricts the contact pressure and interaction between the two rollers, thereby preventing rubber wear from the first roller while maintaining effective sheet re-conveying through the second roller's rigid material properties
2Force
If the second roller is inclined with respect to the first roller, then the re-conveying unit can provide effective pressing force, but uneven wear occurs on the rubber surface
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating member acts as a mediator that controls the interaction between the inclined second roller and the first roller. It ensures that the pressing force is applied uniformly and restricts excessive contact that would cause uneven wear, thereby maintaining roller surface uniformity while preserving the beneficial pressing force from the inclined configuration
3Stress or pressure
If the second roller is allowed to move freely toward the first roller, then initial contact pressure is sufficient, but over time rubber wear increases and transfers to sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating member serves as a protective intermediary that limits the movement of the second roller toward the first roller. This restriction prevents excessive contact pressure that leads to rubber wear over time, while still allowing sufficient initial contact pressure for effective sheet re-conveying, thereby ensuring consistent image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating member provides beforehand protection by pre-limiting the contact between rollers before significant wear can occur. This preventive measure cushions against the development of rubber wear and adhesion problems that would otherwise degrade image quality consistency over the apparatus's operational life
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 configuration reduces wear and abrasion, thereby maintaining image quality by minimizing the deterioration caused by the interaction between the rollers and the sheet, and simplifies assembly without significant improvements to the re-conveying unit.
Implementation Method 1
The pressing member is configured to exert resilient force to urge the second roller toward the first roller
Implementation Method 2
the peripheral surface area of the first roller is in contact with the sheet and is made from an elastic material providing high friction coefficient such as rubber
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a re-conveying unit to re-convey a sheet in a re-conveying direction. The re-conveying unit includes a first roller, a second roller, a pressing member, and a regulating member. The first roller is configured to rotate about a first axis and has a surface made from rubber. The second roller faces the first roller and is configured to rotate about a second axis inclined with respect to the first axis. The second roller has a first end portion and a second end portion positioned upstream of the first end portion. The pressing member is configured to exert resilient force to urge the second roller toward the first roller. The regulating member is configured to restrict the first end portion or the second end portion from moving toward the first roller, and is positioned adjacent to the second end portion.