Rotatable Guide Unit for Image Forming Apparatus Jam Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in using internal space due to separately designed feeding and delivering paths for printing media, leading to unnecessary components and difficulties in removing jammed printing media.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a guide unit featuring rotatable guide members that can access and expose multiple feeding and delivering paths to the outside, allowing for easy removal of jammed printing media by merging paths and using elastic members for return mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple feeding and delivering paths are separately designed for different printing medium supply devices, then each path can be optimized for its specific function, but the internal space utilization becomes inefficient and unnecessary components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple feeding and delivering paths into a shared common path. The guide unit enables different printing medium supply devices (cassette, MP tray, SCF) to utilize a common feeding and delivering path, eliminating redundant components and improving internal space utilization while maintaining the specific functional requirements of each supply device
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit is designed as a universal component that can handle and guide printing media from multiple different supply devices through a single path. This multi-functional guide unit replaces the need for separate dedicated paths for each supply device type
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate feeding and delivering paths are designed, then each path can operate independently, but the complexity of components increases and jammed printing media become difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple feeding and delivering paths are merged into a single shared path, reducing the total number of components while maintaining the ability to handle different printing medium supply devices independently through the guide unit's selective guidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit is extracted as a separate, movable component that can be independently operated to access and remove jammed printing media from the shared path, simplifying the overall system while maintaining independent operation capability
3Stability of the object's composition
If the guide unit is fixed in position, then the structure is simple and stable, but jammed printing media cannot be easily accessed and removed
Solution Approach 1:
The guide unit is designed with rotatable guide members that can dynamically change position between a guide state (for normal operation) and an open state (for accessing jammed media). This dynamic capability allows the structure to maintain stability during normal use while enabling easy access for jam removal
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit is segmented into multiple rotatable guide members that can be independently or collectively rotated to open the path, allowing selective access to different portions of the shared feeding and delivering path for jam removal
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a plurality of feeding and delivering paths through which a printing medium is delivered to the developing device, a feeding roller unit which forms a developing and delivering path in which the plurality of feeding and delivering paths are joined and delivers the printing medium to the developing device, and a guide unit which guides the printing medium passing through the plurality of feeding and delivering paths to the feeding roller unit and is rotatably provided to expose the plurality of feeding and delivering paths to the outside. In the above configuration, the printing medium jam problems inside the image forming apparatus are easily cleared.