Sheet Conveying Apparatus Rotating Spring Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveying apparatuses face challenges with size increase and high spring constant when trying to reduce sheet clogging and skew feeding, particularly with thick sheets, due to increased nip pressure and varying pressure distribution.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a rotatable spring holder that supports the driven roller, allowing for increased spring length and reduced spring constant, and a facing portion that maintains parallel alignment with the conveying guide via frictional force, stabilizing pressure and preventing clogging and skew feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the nip pressure of the conveying roller is raised to prevent sheet clogging, then the conveying force is increased, but the spring constant is increased and pressure variation is easily increased
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is configured to rotate about the shaft center of the driven roller, allowing the pressing spring to dynamically adjust its application point. This rotation enables the spring to maintain optimal pressure while accommodating variations in roller position and sheet thickness, thereby stabilizing pressure despite high nip forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing spring is pre-configured with sufficient length and appropriate spring constant to anticipate and compensate for pressure variations before they occur. The spring's initial tension and geometry are designed to maintain stable pressure throughout the conveying cycle, preventing both clogging and pressure instability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pressing spring length is increased to reduce spring constant, then pressure stability is improved, but the apparatus size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable holding portion allows the pressing spring to effectively utilize the radial space around the roller shaft rather than requiring excessive linear length. By rotating about the shaft center, the spring can maintain adequate length for stability while being compactly arranged within the apparatus footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring arrangement transitions from a linear configuration to a radial configuration around the roller shaft. The holding portion rotates in the radial dimension, allowing the spring to achieve necessary length for stability without increasing the apparatus's external dimensions in the conveying direction or width.
3Reliability
If the radius of bending portion in conveying path is made large to reduce resistance, then sheet clogging is reduced, but the apparatus size is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the geometric radius of bending portions, the invention changes the operational parameters by optimizing the pressing spring characteristics and holding portion rotation. This allows adequate conveying force to be generated without requiring large-radius bends, maintaining compact apparatus size while preventing sheet clogging through controlled pressure application.
4Reliability
If the pressing force is increased to improve conveying, then the roller shaft or opening/closing guide is significantly bent, but the actual spring length is reduced and spring constant is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion's rotation about the roller shaft center allows the pressing spring to maintain a more consistent effective length despite roller shaft bending or guide deformation. As the roller shaft bends under increased pressing force, the holding portion rotates to accommodate the changed geometry, preventing the spring from being overly compressed and maintaining stable spring constant.
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 reduces apparatus size, stabilizes spring pressure, and prevents sheet clogging and skew feeding by minimizing pressure variation, while maintaining efficient operation and reducing the spring constant.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing spring configured to press the driven roller toward the conveying roller
Implementation Method 2
the facing portion is separated from the conveying guide in a state where the driven roller abuts on the conveying roller, and the facing portion abuts on the conveying guide when the driven roller is separated from the conveying roller
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying guide configured to guide a sheet which is conveyed by a conveying roller and a driven roller, a pressing spring configured to press the driven roller toward the conveying roller, a holding portion configured to be provided to be rotated about a shaft center of the driven roller and to receive a pressing force of the pressing spring, and a supporting portion configured to support the driven roller in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction to abut on or be separated from the conveying roller. The holding portion includes a facing portion which is disposed to face the conveying guide. The facing portion is separated from the conveying guide in a state where the driven roller abuts on the conveying roller. The facing portion abuts on the conveying guide when the driven roller is separated from the conveying roller.