Sheet Conveyance Stopper Posture Control for Reliable Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyance apparatuses face issues where multiple documents are sandwiched by the feed roller, preventing individual sheet feeding due to strong insertion force, leading to conveyance failures.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a stopper mechanism that changes posture between projection and evacuation positions, preventing documents from being sandwiched by the feed roller, and an evacuation mechanism that ensures the stopper moves out of the conveyance path when the cover member opens, allowing for safe operation and document feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the feed roller conveys sheets with strong power, then the sheet conveyance speed is improved, but multiple sheets are sandwiched at the periphery of the feed roller causing conveyance failure
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is positioned in advance at the sheet conveyance path to prevent multiple sheets from being sandwiched by the feed roller before conveyance begins. This preliminary blocking action ensures that only one sheet can be fed at a time, resolving the contradiction between conveyance speed and individual sheet feeding reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the sheet bundle and the feed roller. It mediates the interaction by controlling sheet access to the feed roller perimeter, preventing harmful sandwiching while allowing controlled individual sheet conveyance
2Reliability
If the stopper projects into the sheet conveyance path to prevent document sandwiching, then individual sheet feeding is improved, but the stopper may be damaged when users remove stuck sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position between projecting into and retracting from the sheet conveyance path. This dynamic capability enables the stopper to protect sheets during feeding while being removable or retractable to prevent damage during maintenance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper's position parameter is changed between two states: projected into the conveyance path for preventing sheet sandwiching, and retracted or made changeable to prevent damage during sheet removal. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between protective function and damage prevention
3Ease of operation
If the cover member is openable to allow sheet removal, then ease of operation is improved, but the stopper may remain in the conveyance path causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is retracted or made changeable to the evacuation posture in advance before the cover member opens. This preliminary retraction ensures the conveyance path is clear for safe sheet removal, eliminating the harmful effect of stopper interference while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper's position is dynamically adjusted in response to cover member opening. When the cover opens for sheet removal, the stopper automatically or manually changes to the evacuation posture, ensuring safety during the operation while maintaining ease of use
Data Source
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AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus (3A) includes a sheet conveyance path (341,342,343), a sheet feeding member (52), a driving mechanism (M), a stopper (63), an interlocking portion (8), a cover member (32), and an evacuation mechanism (322). The stopper (63) is configured to change a posture between a projection posture and an evacuation posture. The projection posture is configured to project into the sheet conveyance path (341,342,343) so as to prevent the sheet to be loaded on a sheet loading portion (31) from abutting on the sheet feeding member (52). The evacuation posture is configured to evacuate the stopper (63) from the sheet conveyance path (341,342,343). The evacuation mechanism (322) is configured to: change the stopper (63) to have the evacuation posture, or to be in a posture changeable state where the stopper (63) changes from the projection posture to the evacuation posture by application of external force, in conjunction with a change of the cover member (32) from a closed state to the open state.