Sheet Conveying Apparatus Restrict Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet conveying apparatuses face challenges in efficiently conveying sheets without them becoming layered, which can lead to jamming and requires costly and space-consuming configurations to prevent this issue, especially when dealing with varying sheet sizes and types.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a movable sheet receiving member, a separation member, and a restrict portion that projects orthogonally to the sheet conveying direction to prevent sheet bundles from entering the nip portion, allowing for deflection and separation of sheets without enlarging the apparatus or increasing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a feed roller and separation roller are used to convey sheets, then sheet conveying function is achieved, but sheets may enter the nip portion in a layered condition causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The restrict member is positioned in advance to restrict the leading end position of sheets before they enter the nip portion. This preliminary restriction prevents multiple sheets from entering the nip portion simultaneously in a layered condition, thereby preventing jamming while maintaining reliable sheet conveying.
2Reliability
If the gap between the sheet receiving member and feed roller is strictly restricted to prevent layering, then sheet conveying reliability improves, but apparatus size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction function is segmented into two parts: the abut portion that restricts the sheet bundle from entering the nip portion, and the restrict member that deflects individual sheets. This segmentation allows the gap between the sheet receiving member and feed roller to be larger without compromising reliability, as the restrict member provides additional control over sheet entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrict member acts as an intermediary element between the sheet bundle and the feed roller. It deflects sheets and restricts their leading end position, serving as a mediator that prevents layering without requiring the gap between the sheet receiving member and feed roller to be strictly restricted, thus avoiding increased apparatus size and cost.
3Manufacturing precision
If the sheet receiving member is fixed to prevent sheet movement, then sheet position control improves, but sheet deflection and separation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet receiving member is made movable between a feed position (where it contacts the feed roller) and a standby position (where it is distant from the feed roller). This dynamic positioning allows the restrict member to deflect sheets effectively during the feed position, while enabling sheet bundle accumulation during the standby position, thus achieving both position control and deflection capability.
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 effectively prevents sheets from entering the nip portion in a layered condition, ensuring stable and cost-effective sheet conveyance without enlarging the apparatus, and can handle both thin and thick sheets by deflecting them appropriately.
Implementation Method 1
the restrict member is brought into contact with a sheet to be conveyed by the feed rotator in the feed position to send the sheet while deflecting the sheet
Implementation Method 2
The sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a spring that biases the rotatably supported intermediate plate toward the feed roller to nip the sheet between the intermediate plate and the feed roller by a bias force of the spring
Implementation Method 3
The separation roller rotates in a direction opposite from that of the feed roller and moves the sheet in a direction opposite from the sheet conveying direction
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus includes an intermediate plate (21b) as a sheet receiving member configured to stack a sheet, a feed roller (22) as a feed rotator configured to feed the sheet stacked on the intermediate plate (21b), and a separation roller (23) as a separation member configured to separate the sheet from a sheet bundle stacked on the intermediate plate (21b). The sheet conveying apparatus further includes a restrict member (60) as a restrict portion disposed so as to reach a position overlapped in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction with the feed roller (22) as at least one member among the feed roller (22) and the separation roller (23) and offset in the width direction from the feed roller (22), and restricting a leading end position of the sheet stacked on the intermediate plate (21b). This arrangement enables to improve sheet conveying performance because the restrict member (60) can restrict the leading end position of the sheet stacked on the intermediate plate (21b).