Sheet Conveyance Roller as a Guide for Removable Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses with removable components accessed from the side face incur increased costs and size due to the need for additional guide members for stable attachment and detachment.

Innovation Solution

Utilize existing sheet conveyance rollers as guides for removable components, such as the writing device, during attachment and detachment, reducing the need for separate guide members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate guide member is attached to guide the removable component, then the attachment and detachment stability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet conveyance roller is designed to serve dual functions: conveying sheets during normal operation and guiding the removable component during attachment and detachment. By making the roller universal, the patent eliminates the need for a separate guide member while maintaining reliable component attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding function for the removable component is merged with the sheet conveyance roller. Instead of having separate guide members, the patent combines the guidance function into the existing roller structure, thereby reducing component count and simplifying the overall device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate guide member is attached to guide the removable component, then the attachment and detachment stability is improved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet conveyance roller performs multiple functions including sheet conveyance and component guidance. This multi-functionality allows the device to maintain reliable attachment capabilities without increasing the overall device size through additional guide members

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guidance function is merged into the existing roller structure rather than being implemented as a separate external guide member. This integration approach maintains attachment stability while avoiding the space that would be required for additional guide components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a separate guide member is attached to guide the removable component, then the attachment and detachment stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet conveyance roller is designed to serve dual purposes: sheet conveyance and component guidance. This universality reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need to produce separate guide members, while still ensuring reliable attachment and detachment of the removable component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guidance function is combined with the existing roller structure, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. This merging approach lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the reliability of component attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12560884B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a body; a sheet conveyor to convey a sheet in an interior of the body; a removable component detachably attachable to the interior of the body from one side face of the body. The sheet conveyor includes a sheet conveyance roller having: a first face to guide the sheet in the interior of the body; and a second face to guide the removable component during an attachment or a detachment of the removable component to or from the body.