Registration Roller Guide Alignment for Accurate Sheet Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the relative position of the conveyance guide to the registration roller pair is difficult to guarantee, leading to variations in the position of the sheet's leading edge relative to the nip portion, which deteriorates the accuracy of sheet skew correction.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a pivotable door with a registration roller pair where the second roller is disposed on the door, a holding portion to secure the second roller, and a pivotable conveyance guide that is urged toward a fixed guide when the door is closed, ensuring precise alignment of the registration roller pair and conveyance guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conveyance guide is supported by a member different from the registration lock member, then the door can be opened for jam recovery, but the relative position of the conveyance guide to the registration roller pair becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance guide is integrated with the registration lock member, merging two previously separate support structures into one unified component. This ensures that when the door is opened for jam recovery, the conveyance guide moves together with the registration roller pair, maintaining their relative positional accuracy while still allowing door opening operation.
2Ease of operation
If the second conveyance guide is made pivotable about the second roller, then the sheet can be guided to the nip portion, but the position of the leading edge of the sheet relative to the nip portion varies
Solution Approach 1:
The second conveyance guide is pre-positioned in a predetermined state relative to the registration roller pair through its pivotable connection. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the sheet is conveyed, the leading edge maintains accurate alignment with the nip portion, preventing position variations while still allowing the guide to pivot for sheet guidance.
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 improves the positional accuracy of the conveyance guide relative to the registration roller pair, enhancing the accuracy of sheet skew correction and facilitating easy jam recovery without compromising the apparatus's structural integrity or increasing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first urging portion disposed on the openable and closable portion and configured to urge the second conveyance guide toward the first conveyance guide
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming main body unit, an openable and closable portion disposed on the image forming main body unit, the openable and closable portion being disposed to be openable and closable between a closed position and an open position, a registration roller pair including a first roller and a second roller, the first roller being disposed on the image forming main body unit, the second roller being disposed on the openable and closable portion, a holding portion configured to hold the second roller, a first conveyance guide, a second conveyance guide configured to be pivotable about the second roller, a first urging portion configured to urge the second conveyance guide toward the first conveyance guide, and an abutting portion configured to be in contact with the first conveyance guide when the openable and closable portion is at the closed position.