Sheet Conveyance Pitch Adjustment via One-Way Clutch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyance devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in improving productivity without increasing system speed, often resulting in complex configurations and increased manufacturing costs due to variations in conveyance speed and the need for complicated control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance device with a pitch adjustment mechanism using a pair of pitch adjustment rollers with different peripheral speeds, connected via a one-way clutch, allows for continuous sheet feeding with partial overlap, adjusting the pitch to form a predetermined gap between sheets without stopping the rollers, thereby stabilizing conveyance speed and simplifying the control mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the system speed is increased to reduce the gap between sheets and improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but noise increases and parts consumption accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by intermittently stopping the resist roller pair at specific intervals during sheet conveyance. The rollers stop before the leading edge of the subsequent sheet reaches them, then resume rotation to create the desired gap. This periodic stopping action allows gap formation without increasing overall system speed, thus avoiding increased noise and parts wear while maintaining productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If rollers are stopped intermittently to form gaps between sheets, then gap formation is achieved, but conveyance speed variation increases due to gear backlash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by stopping the resist roller pair in advance before the leading edge of the subsequent sheet reaches the roller surface. This timing ensures that when the rollers resume rotation, the sheet is already positioned such that the desired gap is formed, preventing speed variation and backlash issues that would occur if stopping happened at the moment of sheet contact.
3Manufacturing precision
If a clutch mechanism is used to disconnect rollers from the drive shaft for stopping conveyance, then gap formation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by removing the clutch mechanism entirely from the system. Instead of using a clutch to disconnect the resist roller pair from the drive shaft, the invention directly controls the roller stopping and starting through simplified drive control, extracting the complex clutch component while maintaining the ability to form gaps between sheets.
4Productivity
If sheets are fed in continuous feed state with no gap, then productivity is maximized, but sheets may partially overlap and cause processing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by introducing intermittent stopping of the resist roller pair during continuous sheet feed. This periodic interruption creates the necessary gap between sheets to prevent overlap and processing errors, while maintaining continuous feed operation otherwise, thus preserving high productivity while ensuring processing reliability.
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 enhances productivity by maintaining efficient sheet conveyance without increasing system speed, reduces manufacturing costs by avoiding complex control systems, and improves image forming efficiency by stabilizing the conveyance process.
Implementation Method 1
the second pitch adjustment roller is connected to a drive shaft that drives the second pitch adjustment roller via a one-way clutch that allows the second pitch adjustment roller to be rotated only in the direction following a sheet conveying direction
Implementation Method 2
a pitch adjustment roller pair including a first pitch adjustment roller and a second pitch adjustment roller that sandwich the conveyance path and are in pressure contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance device includes: a container that accommodates loaded sheets; a feeding mechanism that continuously feeds the sheet from the container; a conveyance path on which the sheet is conveyed; and a pitch adjustment mechanism provided on the conveyance path and which adjusts a pitch of a preceding sheet and a subsequent sheet, wherein the pitch adjustment mechanism includes a pitch adjustment roller pair including a first pitch adjustment roller and a second pitch adjustment roller that sandwich the conveyance path and are in pressure contact with each other, the first pitch adjustment roller is driven and rotated in a direction following a sheet conveying direction, the second pitch adjustment roller is driven and rotated in the direction following a sheet conveying direction, and the second pitch adjustment roller is connected to a drive shaft that drives the second pitch adjustment roller via a one-way clutch.