Sheet Conveyance Rotary Guide Mechanism for Steep Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sheet conveyance apparatuses with branched paths often cause sheet damage due to steep curvature and rubbing against guide members, especially when an inlet roller pair is omitted, leading to increased noise and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a movable guide member and rotary members on the receiving conveyance path, where the rotary members guide the sheet in contact with both the guide member and the rotary members, reducing friction and damage by adjusting their position based on the guide member's posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the distance from inlet port to switching member is shortened by omitting inlet roller pair, then the apparatus configuration is simplified, but the curvature of conveyance paths becomes steeper causing sheet damage and image deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
Rolling guides are introduced as intermediary elements between the inlet port and switching member. These rolling guides provide a mediating mechanism that enables the sheet to transition through the steep curved conveyance path without direct rubbing contact, thus allowing the inlet roller pair to be omitted while preventing sheet damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rubbing contact system with a rolling contact system. By using rolling guides that rotate during sheet conveyance, the harmful sliding friction is substituted with beneficial rolling motion, reducing sheet damage while maintaining the simplified configuration
2Ease of operation
If multiple rolling guides are arranged on the movable guide member to switch conveyance direction, then the sheet conveyance is improved, but the configuration becomes complicated and noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling guides are extracted from the movable guide member and repositioned on the stationary housing. This separation removes the complexity and noise issues associated with having rolling guides on the movable member, while still achieving the desired sheet conveyance function through the guide member's angular movement
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 reduces sheet damage and image deterioration, enhances conveyance performance, and simplifies the apparatus configuration by minimizing the need for additional rollers, while maintaining efficient conveyance even with sharper curves.
Implementation Method 1
the rotary member guides the sheet by rotating in contact with the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a receiving conveyance path branching into a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path. A guide member guides a sheet passing through the receiving conveyance path and is movable between a first position to guide the sheet toward the first conveyance path and a second position to guide the sheet toward the second conveyance path. A rotary member is disposed on the receiving conveyance path and configured to guide the sheet by rotating in contact with the sheet. The rotary member guides the sheet on the same side as the guide member that is on the first position, while guiding the sheet on the opposite side from the guide member that is on the second position. The sheet is conveyed in contact with both the rotary member and the guide member when the guide member is at the first position.