Sheet Conveyance Grounding via Integrated Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet conveyance apparatuses face challenges in stabilizing the conveyability and loadability of sheets due to uneven electric charge distribution, which affects the reliability and efficiency of the discharge process.

Innovation Solution

A sheet conveyance apparatus is designed with a conductive shaft, conveyance roller, drive transmission unit, conductive bearing member, conductive discharging member, and a conductive grounding member to ensure proper grounding and discharge of sheets, utilizing a conductive grounding mechanism that connects the bearing and discharging members to a grounding portion, thereby stabilizing the electric charge and improving conveyance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a grounding mechanism is added to stabilize electric charge distribution, then conveyability and loadability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyability and loadabilityVSAvoidgrounding mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding mechanism is merged with the existing housing structure. The housing includes a grounding portion that directly provides electrical grounding to the discharging member, eliminating the need for separate grounding components. This integration maintains reliability improvement while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing itself serves the dual function of structural support and electrical grounding. By incorporating a grounding portion into the housing, the structure provides its own grounding capability without requiring external grounding systems, thus improving conveyability while avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If multiple conductive components are used to ensure proper grounding, then electric charge stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectric charge stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple grounding functions are merged into a single integrated grounding portion within the housing. Instead of using separate conductive components for different grounding points, the housing's grounding portion provides comprehensive electrical grounding for both the discharging member and conveyance roller, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring charge stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding portion of the housing serves multiple grounding purposes simultaneously - grounding the discharging member, grounding the conveyance roller, and providing a common reference potential. This multi-functionality reduces the number of manufacturing steps and components needed while maintaining electric charge stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The solution effectively stabilizes the electric charge on sheets, enhancing their conveyability and loadability by ensuring consistent grounding, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of the discharge process.

Implementation Method 1

The grounding member conducts the bearing member and the discharging member to the grounding portion of the cover member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The discharging member discharges electric charge of the sheets, and this stabilizes conveyability and loadability of the sheets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Data Source

PatentUS9696677B2Sheet conveyance apparatus that ensures grounding of discharging member and conveyance roller with simple configuration, and image forming apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2017.07.04 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a housing, a rotationally driven conductive shaft, a conveyance roller, a drive transmission unit, a conductive bearing member, a conductive discharging member, a cover member, and a conductive grounding member. The bearing member rotatably supports one end side of a shaft in a sheet width direction. The conductive discharging member is disposed in the openings. The discharging member discharges sheets by contacting the sheets. The cover member is secured to the sidewall along the one end side of the housing in the sheet width direction. The cover member includes a conductive grounding portion for electrical grounding. The conductive grounding member contacts the bearing member and the one end side of the discharging member along the sheet width direction. The grounding member conducts the bearing member and the discharging member to the grounding portion of the cover member.