Sheet Conveying Apparatus Rotary Shutter Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses with rotational shutter members face issues where the protruding portion correcting sheet skew remains in contact with the sheet, leading to potential jamming and damage when trying to remove a jammed sheet, as the next protruding portion may protrude into the sheet conveying path, causing tearing and difficulty in unjamming.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a rotary member having first and second abutment portions that rotate from their respective positions as sheets pass, and a downstream guide configured to prevent the protruding portions from protruding into the sheet path, ensuring the sheet is guided safely and preventing unnecessary rotation of the shutter member during jam clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotational shutter member is used to shorten the distance between sheets, then productivity is improved, but the risk of sheet damage during jam clearance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The downstream guide is positioned in advance to prevent the protruding portion from entering the sheet conveying path before a jam can occur. This preliminary positioning ensures that even when a sheet jams and users attempt to remove it, the shutter member cannot rotate enough to cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The downstream guide acts as an intermediary element between the shutter member and the sheet conveying path. It mediates the interaction by physically blocking the protruding portion from entering the path, thereby preventing direct contact that would cause sheet damage during jam clearance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the protruding portion remains in contact with the sheet during conveyance, then sheet skew correction is maintained, but the complexity of jam clearance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter member is segmented into multiple protruding portions that can be independently positioned. The downstream guide is specifically positioned to affect only certain portions, allowing skew correction to continue while preventing the harmful rotation that complicates jam clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The downstream guide is positioned at a specific location to provide localized restriction. It creates a local constraint that prevents the protruding portion from entering the conveying path while allowing other parts of the shutter member to continue their skew correction function.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the shutter member rotates freely during sheet conveyance, then continuous skew correction is achieved, but unjamming operations become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The downstream guide applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the protruding portion from rotating into the conveying path. This counteracts the potential harmful rotation before it can occur, making unjamming operations easier while allowing continuous skew correction during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a restricting portion provided on a second roller side with respect to a sheet conveying path and near a nip portion. This restricting portion is configured such that a first abutment portion is positioned on the second roller side from a straight line connecting a point protruding most to the sheet conveying path of the restricting portion and the nip portion in a state in which a second abutment portion is in contact with a surface of a first sheet as a rotary member rotates in a predetermined direction by the first abutment portion being pushed by the first sheet.