Sheet Conveying Guide Rib Tilt Angle Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet conveying apparatuses in electrophotographic systems face issues with sheet damage due to high contact resistance and rib-induced damage, particularly when ribs are tilted or parallel to the sheet conveying direction, leading to jamming and uneven gloss on thick coated papers.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a guide unit featuring ribs that are continuously extended over curved and flat portions, where the ribs are tilted more in the curved portions than in the flat portions, reducing the concentration of rubbing force and minimizing damage by dispersing contact areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ribs are tilted with respect to the sheet conveying direction, then sheet guiding performance is improved and contact resistance is reduced, but rib start points concentrate rubbing force causing sheet damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different rib configurations to different regions of the guide unit. In the curved portion, ribs are tilted at a larger angle to improve guiding performance, while in the flat portion, ribs are arranged more parallel to reduce rubbing force concentration. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region's rib configuration for its specific functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit is divided into multiple sections: a curved portion and a flat portion, each with distinct rib arrangements. The curved portion uses more tilted ribs for effective sheet guidance, while the flat portion uses less tilted ribs to minimize rubbing force concentration at start points. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both guiding performance and sheet protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ribs are arranged parallel to sheet conveying direction, then number of rib start points is reduced, but surface of ribs causes damage to the sheet
Solution Approach 1:
Different rib orientations are applied to different sections: parallel arrangement in flat portions to reduce rubbing force concentration, and tilted arrangement in curved portions to maintain guiding performance. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between reducing rubbing force and maintaining guiding effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If a flat plate guide unit is used, then structure is simple, but contact resistance with sheet is large increasing jamming frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide unit is segmented into curved and flat portions with different rib configurations. This segmentation reduces contact resistance and jamming frequency while maintaining structural simplicity, as the rib patterns are integrated into the existing guide unit geometry without requiring complex additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a guide unit configured to form a conveyance path on which a sheet passes wherein the guide unit includes curved portions curved in a thickness-direction of the conveyed sheet, and a flat portion. The guide unit includes a rib contacting with the sheet and disposed continuously spreading over the curved portions and the flat portion. The rib has at least a part tilted with respect to the sheet conveying-direction in the curved portion more than in the flat portion.