Sheet Conveyance Gate Member Orientation for Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skew correction mechanisms in sheet conveyance apparatuses are inadequate due to insufficient reactive force application, as the gate members rotate around a contact point rather than the rotational shaft, leading to inefficient skew correction at increased conveyance speeds.
Innovation Solution
The sheet conveyance apparatus features gate members with arc-shaped parts whose openings face toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, ensuring that the stoppers are displaced parallel to the conveyance path, allowing the gate members to rotate around the rotational shaft even under strong impact, thus ensuring effective skew correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sheet conveyance speed is increased to improve productivity, then the conveyance efficiency is improved, but the impact on the gate increases causing insufficient skew correction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the gate member by orienting the opening of the arc-shaped part toward the downstream side instead of the upstream side. This parameter change modifies the rotation characteristics of the gate member, ensuring it rotates around the rotational shaft rather than the contact point, thereby maintaining reliable skew correction even at higher conveyance speeds.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional gate members with arc-shaped parts opening facing upstream are used, then the assembly is convenient, but the gate members rotate around the contact point instead of the rotational shaft, reducing reactive force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional design by orienting the opening of the arc-shaped part toward the downstream side rather than the upstream side. This inversion changes the rotation center from the contact point to the rotational shaft, ensuring the gate member rotates around the correct axis and applies sufficient reactive force to the sheet leading edge for effective skew correction.
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 design ensures that the gate members apply a sufficient reactive force to correct skew, maintaining sheet alignment and improving conveyance efficiency even at higher speeds.
Implementation Method 1
When the leading edge of a skew sheet abuts against part of the gate, the sheet firstly rotates around the normal passing through the leading edge of the sheet by a reactive force of the gate
Implementation Method 2
after the sheet abuts against at least one of the stoppers, the stoppers are pushed out of the sheet conveyance path by the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance device correcting skew of a sheet being conveyed includes: a rotational shaft extending perpendicularly to a sheet conveyance direction; conveyance rollers disposed at predefined intervals and into which the rotational shaft is inserted; gate members being coaxial with the conveyance rollers and disposed between the conveyance rollers along the rotational shaft, the gate members each having an arc-shaped part partially surrounding the rotational shaft and a stopper protruding radially outwards from the arc-shaped part; and a mounting plate elongated along the rotational shaft and being supported rotatably around the rotational shaft and holding the gate members in a same orientation. After the sheet abuts against at least one of the stoppers, the stoppers are pushed out of the conveyance path by the sheet. When the stoppers are positioned on the conveyance path, openings of the arc-shaped parts face toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction.