Sheet Conveying Device with Inclined Guide Parts for Thin ADF Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses of the ADF type face challenges in increasing the number of documents that can be set on the sheet supply tray while maintaining a thin apparatus design, as larger separation rollers required for efficient document separation hinder the reduction of the device's height.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sheet conveying device with inclined guide parts and rollers that form a V-shaped conveyance path, allowing for a larger diameter separation roller without increasing the height, by configuring the guide parts to be parallel and reducing the mounting position of the conveyance rollers, thereby enabling more sheets to be set while maintaining a compact structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the diameter of the separation roller is increased to appropriately separate more documents one at a time, then the document separation performance is improved, but the height size of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing inclined guide parts that redirect the conveyance path in the vertical direction. The first guide part inclines downward and the second guide part inclines upward, creating a V-shaped path that allows the separation roller to be positioned lower while maintaining effective separation. This transforms the problem from a horizontal space constraint to a vertical path optimization, enabling more documents to be set without increasing overall apparatus height.
2Productivity
If the diameter of the separation roller is increased to handle more sheets, then the sheet conveying capacity is improved, but the mounting position of the roller must be raised increasing device height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vertical path redirection through inclined guide parts to accommodate a larger diameter separation roller without raising its mounting position. The downward then upward inclination creates additional vertical space utilization, allowing the roller to extend higher without increasing the apparatus footprint height, thereby maintaining productivity improvement while controlling device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces curved conveyance paths through inclined guide parts that smoothly redirect sheets. The curved geometry of the guide parts allows sheets to transition between different vertical levels without sharp angles, reducing stress on sheets while enabling the separation roller to operate at an optimized position for handling multiple sheets simultaneously.
3Productivity
If more documents are set on the sheet supply tray, then the processing efficiency is improved, but the separation roller diameter must be increased which complicates the device structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies device structure by using inclined guide parts instead of complex mechanical separation mechanisms. The vertical redirection through guide parts works in conjunction with the separation roller to achieve multi-sheet handling capability without requiring additional complex components, thus improving processing efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity.
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
This configuration allows for a higher number of documents to be set on the tray while keeping the apparatus thin, enhancing sheet conveying performance and reducing noise and stress on the sheets, thus addressing the height and capacity limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
a suction roller, which is arranged at the first guide part, and which is configured to convey the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side in the conveying direction
Implementation Method 2
a first guide part configured to guide the sheet, which is conveyed from a vicinity of a downstream end of the feeder unit in a conveying direction toward a further downstream side in the conveying direction, in a direction inclined at a downward gradient
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path and a feeder unit for supporting the sheet to be fed to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a first guide part for guiding the sheet toward a downstream side in the conveying direction in a direction inclined at a downward gradient, a second guide part for guiding the sheet from the first guide part toward a further downstream side in a direction inclined at an upward gradient, a suction roller arranged at the first guide part for conveying the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side, and a first conveyance roller arranged at the second guide part and for conveying the sheet conveyed by the suction roller toward the downstream side one at a time.