Sheet Conveyance Guide Member Pivot Angle Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the pivoting guide members can interfere with other components and cause sheet conveyance abnormalities, leading to damage and reduced performance due to regulation members that may scratch or damage the guide surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a regulation portion that abuts against the guide member's abutment portion to limit its pivot angle, preventing excessive pivoting and potential damage, while maintaining access for maintenance and minimizing size increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a regulation member is provided to regulate the pivoting range of the guide member, then the pivot angle is controlled and interference is prevented, but scratch marks and damages are formed on the guide surface causing sheet conveyance abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a regulation portion with an abutment surface that serves as an intermediary between the regulation member and the guide member. This intermediary surface receives the regulation member's abutment force without transferring it to the guide member's guide surface, thus preventing scratch marks while maintaining effective pivoting angle regulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the regulation function from the guide surface by providing a dedicated abutment surface on the regulation portion. This separates the regulatory function (controlling pivot angle) from the guiding function (sheet conveyance), allowing each to perform its role without interfering with or damaging the other
2Ease of operation
If the guide member pivots to a large angle to expose internal components for maintenance, then operator access is improved, but interference with other members occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation portion with its abutment surface acts as a mediator that defines the maximum pivot angle. This allows the guide member to pivot sufficiently for maintenance access while being stopped before interfering with other apparatus members
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a specific pivot angle parameter through the geometric relationship between the abutment surface and the regulation member. This parameter optimization allows sufficient exposure of internal components for maintenance while preventing over-pivoting that would cause interference
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a cover member including a first guide surface guiding a sheet and capable of switching between a close state and an open state with respect to the apparatus body, a guide member including a second guide surface opposing to the first guide surface, and a conveyance unit conveying a sheet through a path between the first guide surface and the second guide surface. The guide member includes an abutment portion formed of a depression in the second guide surface, and is supported pivotally on the apparatus body to an outer side of the apparatus body. The sheet conveyance apparatus further includes a regulation portion supported on the apparatus body and formed to abut against the abutment portion so as to regulate a pivot angle of the guide member.