Sheet Conveying Apparatus Skew Correction Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skew feed correcting portions in sheet conveying apparatuses face issues with jamming and bending, especially when handling sheets of varying sizes, due to the wide gap between guides causing downward flexure under gravity, which is more pronounced in thin sheets of weak stiffness.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a skew feed correcting portion comprising a first guide portion movable in the width direction, a second guide portion, and an auxiliary guide between them, allowing the first guide to adjust to the sheet size and the auxiliary guide to move correspondingly, preventing downward flexure by supporting the sheet's central portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gap between guides is widened to accommodate sheets of varying sizes, then adaptability is improved, but sheet stability deteriorates due to downward flexure under gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is segmented into multiple components: a first guide, a second guide, and an auxiliary guide positioned between them. This segmentation allows each guide to independently support the sheet, preventing downward flexure while accommodating varying sheet sizes through the adjustable positioning of the auxiliary guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary guide is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position according to the sheet size. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal support under the sheet central portion while adapting to different sheet dimensions, thereby preserving sheet flatness across various sizes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the gap between guides is reduced to prevent sheet flexure, then sheet stability is improved, but adaptability to varying sheet sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary guide is designed to be movable, enabling the gap between guides to dynamically adjust based on sheet size. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining a small gap (for stability) when needed while allowing the gap to widen (for adaptability) when the sheet size requires it.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary guide serves multiple functions: it provides support to prevent flexure, adjusts to accommodate different sheet sizes, and maintains alignment. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both stability and adaptability with a single integrated component.
3Manufacturing precision
If registration rollers are used to correct skew feed, then skew correction capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of skew correction from the complex registration roller mechanism and implements it through a simpler guide-based system. The auxiliary guide, in conjunction with the first and second guides, provides skew correction through geometric constraint rather than active mechanical correction, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary guide acts as an intermediary element that simplifies the skew correction process. Instead of using complex registration rollers to actively correct skew, the auxiliary guide passively guides the sheet into proper alignment through its positioning between the first and second guides, reducing the overall system complexity.
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 enables accurate skew feed correction without jamming or bending, ensuring reliable conveyance of sheets across a wide range of sizes by maintaining the sheet's flatness and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
the wide gap between guides causing downward flexure under gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying path is constituted by a fixed guide portion and a movable guide portion movable in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of a sheet for regulating the position of one side edge of the sheet by a skew feed correcting portion, and an auxiliary guide for guiding the sheet is provided between the fixed guide portion and the movable guide portion for movement in the width direction. When the skew feed of the conveyed sheet is corrected, the movable guide portion is moved in advance to a position corresponding to the size of the sheet, and in operative association with the movable guide portion, the auxiliary guide is moved to a guide position corresponding to the size of the sheet.