Sheet Conveyer Guide Member for Compact Holder Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet conveyers require a large space to accommodate the holder's movement, which increases the size of the conveyer, making it difficult to minimize the size or thickness of the device.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyer design featuring a swingable holder with a guide member that guides sheets to the lower side of the holder, allowing the feed roller to move in sync with the holder while maintaining a compact structure, and an image reading apparatus that incorporates this conveyer to read sheets efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the holder is swingably supported to allow sufficient displacement for sheet guidance, then the sheet guidance function is improved, but the space required near the holder increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into a main body portion and a separate guide portion. The guide portion is swingably supported relative to the main body, allowing it to move independently to guide sheets. This segmentation enables the guidance function without requiring the entire holder to occupy large space, as only the guide portion needs the movement freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide surface is introduced as an intermediary element between the sheet and the holder. The guide surface extends from the guide portion and contacts the sheet to direct it toward the feed roller. This intermediary structure allows the holder to maintain its support function while the guide surface independently performs the sheet guidance function with minimal space requirement.
2Productivity
If the feed roller is attached to the holder to move with it, then the sheet conveyance efficiency is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller is attached to the holder, merging the conveyance function with the support structure. This integration allows the feed roller to automatically adjust its position as the holder swings, maintaining efficient sheet conveyance without requiring separate control mechanisms. The combined structure reduces overall complexity by eliminating the need for independent positioning systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If the guide surface extends upstream to guide sheets effectively, then the sheet guidance precision is improved, but the device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is configured to extend in the conveying direction (upstream) rather than requiring lateral expansion. By utilizing the depth dimension of the device along the sheet flow path, the guide surface achieves effective sheet guidance without increasing the overall thickness of the device. This dimensional approach allows precise guidance while maintaining a compact profile.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyer comprises a sheet support surface; a first roller to convey sheets; a second roller to separate one by one the sheets to convey a sheet downstream; a holder configured to be swingably supported about a swing center axis, wherein the first roller is attached to the holder to be rotatable; and a guide formed of a separate member and comprising a guide surface extending upstream with respect to an upstream end portion of the holder and the guide guides the sheet to a portion below the holder and the first roller.