Sheet Conveyance Apparatus Noise Reduction via Regulating Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet conveyance apparatus generates noise due to contact between the driven roller and its holding member caused by vibrations or external forces, which affects the conveyance efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a U-shaped urging member that elastically deforms to regulate the interval between its extending portions, preventing them from contacting the driven roller's end surfaces, and includes a mounting portion with bearing, supporting, pressing, and regulating components to ensure proper alignment and reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding member includes extending portions that extend along both end surfaces of the driven roller, then the driven roller can be securely held and urged toward the drive roller, but the extending portions may contact side surfaces of the driven roller due to vibrations or external forces, generating large noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a regulating portion that extends in the width direction (perpendicular to the conveyance direction) to control the interval between the pair of extending portions. This dimensional adjustment prevents the extending portions from contacting the driven roller's side surfaces while maintaining the urging function, thereby eliminating noise without compromising holding stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interval parameter between the pair of extending portions by introducing the regulating portion. This parameter adjustment ensures that the interval is wider than the width of the driven roller, preventing contact and noise generation while maintaining the necessary urging force through elastic deformation of the urging member
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the urging member elastically deforms to regulate the interval between extending portions, then contact with the driven roller is prevented, but additional mounting components (bearing portions, supporting portion, pressing portion, regulating portion) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the mounting portion structure. The bearing portions, supporting portion, pressing portion, and regulating portion are integrated into a unified mounting assembly that simultaneously provides support, positioning, elastic deformation control, and interval regulation, reducing overall structural complexity despite the multiple functions required
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portion is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple roles: supporting the driven roller via bearing portions, providing structural support through the supporting portion, enabling elastic deformation through the pressing portion, and regulating the interval between extending portions through the regulating portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components
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 reduces noise and improves conveyance efficiency by ensuring the urging member does not contact the driven roller, maintaining smooth operation and reducing vibrations-induced noise.
Implementation Method 1
The pressing portion abuts on the pair of extending portions, from above, between the pair of bearing portions and the supporting portion to elastically deform the pair of extending portions
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes an inner main unit, a guiding portion, a conveyance roller pair, a mounting portion, and an urging member. A pair of bearing portions supports a shaft portion of a driven roller. A supporting portion is located on an upstream side or a downstream side in a conveyance direction in the pair of bearing portions and supports a pair of extending portions from below. A pressing portion abuts on the pair of extending portions, from above, between the pair of bearing portions and the supporting portion to elastically deform the pair of extending portions. A regulating portion is located between the pair of bearing portions and the supporting portion in the conveyance direction and regulates an interval between the pair of extending portions such that the interval becomes wider than a length of a roller portion in a width direction.