Sheet Conveyance Roller Segmentation for Crease Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyance systems face challenges in preventing creases and jamming due to uneven pressure distribution and misalignment of rollers, which can lead to twisting and swelling of sheets during conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a guide unit that contacts the sheet's side end portion, utilizing a first roller pair with a driven roller to pinch the sheet and a second roller pair with conveyance rollers, where each pinch roller applies a conveyance force inclined towards the conveyance path side end, ensuring uniform pressure and alignment to prevent creases and jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the paper width guide presses the continuous paper in the width direction to regulate position, then the side end portions are guided, but the sheet is placed in a swollen state causing creases when held by the downstream side conveyance roller
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance roller is divided into multiple sections (first conveyance roller section and second conveyance roller section) with different pressing forces. The first section applies a first pressing force while the second section applies a second pressing force, allowing differentiated pressure distribution to prevent creases while maintaining position regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the conveyance roller are assigned different pressing forces based on their location. The first conveyance roller section (upstream side) applies a different pressing force compared to the second conveyance roller section (downstream side), creating local quality variations to prevent sheet swelling and crease formation at specific locations.
2Reliability
If conveyance rollers apply pressure to the sheet for conveyance, then the sheet is held firmly, but uneven pressure distribution causes twisting and creases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance roller is segmented into multiple sections with different pressing forces. The first conveyance roller section applies a first pressing force while the second conveyance roller section applies a second pressing force, enabling uniform overall pressure distribution while maintaining firm conveyance hold.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force parameter is varied across different sections of the conveyance roller. By changing the pressing force from the first section to the second section, the system achieves uniform pressure distribution while maintaining reliable sheet conveyance.
3Ease of manufacture
If divided driven rollers are used to apply uniform pressure, then cost and size are reduced, but arranging rotation shafts parallel with high precision is difficult, causing creases and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance roller is divided into multiple sections that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows each section to be manufactured and assembled more easily while maintaining uniform pressure distribution, reducing the difficulty of achieving precise parallel alignment of rotation shafts.
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 suppresses creases and jamming by ensuring precise alignment and uniform pressure distribution, enhancing conveyance precision and preventing sheet deformation during high-speed printing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a guide unit held in contact with a side end portion of a conveyed sheet to guide the side end portion of the sheet
Implementation Method 2
a first roller pair arranged on a downstream side of the guide unit, including a driven roller held in contact with a whole sheet in a sheet width direction, and adapted to convey the sheet while pinching the same
Implementation Method 3
each of the plurality of pinch rollers applies to the sheet a conveyance force inclined toward a conveyance path side end, which is nearer to the pinch roller
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide unit for guiding the side end of the sheet; a first roller pair arranged on the downstream side of the guide unit for conveying the sheet, including a driven roller held in contact with a whole sheet in a sheet width direction; and a second roller pair having a conveyance roller arranged on the downstream side of the roller and adapted to convey the sheet, and a plurality of pinch rollers pinching the sheet in cooperation with the conveyance roller, wherein each of the plurality of pinch rollers applies to the sheet a conveyance force inclined toward a conveyance path side end, which is nearer to the pinch roller, and wherein the smaller the distance between the pinch roller and the conveyance path side end, the greater the inclination of the conveyance force thereof.