Sheet Conveyance Guide Unit with Segmented Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, sheet-like guide members cause frictional electrification, leading to increased sheet passing resistance and sticking issues, especially when larger guide members are used, as they become electrically charged due to friction, necessitating smaller guide members to mitigate these problems.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance guide unit comprising a first sheet guide member and a second sheet guide member, where the second member is shorter in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and made of materials with high sliding properties, such as fluorine-coated or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, is attached to the first member, reducing contact and frictional electrification by creating air layers and increasing stiffness through lamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sheet-like guide member is used to eliminate frictional electrification, then static electricity generation is reduced, but the guide member becomes electrically charged by friction and increases sheet passing resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is divided into two parts: a first sheet guide member that contacts the recording sheet and a second sheet guide member that does not contact the recording sheet. The second member is positioned slightly apart to prevent direct contact while still providing guidance, thereby reducing frictional electrification and sheet passing resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The second sheet guide member acts as an intermediary element between the recording sheet and the first sheet guide member. It provides guidance functionality while maintaining a slight gap that prevents direct frictional contact, thus reducing static electricity generation and conveying resistance
2Ease of operation
If a large sheet-like guide member is used to improve guidance, then guidance accuracy is improved, but conveying resistance increases due to larger contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is segmented into two parts with different functions: the first sheet guide member provides broad guidance accuracy, while the second sheet guide member reduces conveying resistance by maintaining a slight gap. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the guide member have different contact characteristics. The first sheet guide member has direct contact for guidance accuracy, while the second sheet guide member maintains a slight gap to reduce conveying resistance. This local differentiation of contact quality resolves the contradiction between guidance accuracy and conveying resistance
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 configuration allows for the use of larger sheet-like guide members while reducing conveying resistance and static electricity generation, enabling smooth sheet conveyance with reduced contact and increased strength, thus overcoming the limitations of smaller guide members.
Implementation Method 1
the recording sheet sticks to the plate-like member by frictional electrification produced between the recording sheet and the sheet guide member
Implementation Method 2
the sheet-like guide member is electrically charged by friction. Due to an electrostatic force of the friction, the recording sheet sticks more firmly to the sheet-like guide member
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a sheet conveyance guide unit. The sheet conveyance guide unit includes a first sheet guide member which is of a sheet-like shape and which guides a sheet on which an image is formed and a second sheet guide member which is of a sheet-like shape and which is attached on a sheet guide surface of the first sheet guide member. A length of the second sheet guide member in a direction which crosses a sheet conveying direction is smaller than that of the first sheet guide member.