Sheet Conveyor Roller Layout for Reduced Guide-Plate Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing apparatuses face issues with sheet damage and wrinkling due to increased conveyance resistance when sheets with different thicknesses and stiffnesses pass through the conveyance passage, and existing solutions fail to effectively prevent these issues.
Innovation Solution
A novel sheet processing apparatus design featuring a first and second guide plate with openings and a sheet conveyor with drive and driven rollers positioned to minimize sheet contact with guide plates, using a shifted configuration to reduce conveyance resistance and prevent sheet damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the sheet is conveyed while being in contact with the guide plate, then the conveyance path is simplified, but the conveyance resistance increases and the sheet may be damaged or wrinkled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conveyed object holding member (roller) as an intermediary between the sheet and the guide plate. This roller contacts the sheet and guides it through the conveyance path, preventing direct contact between the sheet and the guide plate, thereby reducing conveyance resistance and preventing sheet damage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interaction dimension by transitioning from direct surface contact between sheet and guide plate to roller-mediated contact. The roller rotates to convey the sheet, converting sliding friction into rolling friction, which significantly reduces conveyance resistance and prevents sheet wrinkling
2Manufacturing precision
If additional driven rollers are added to reduce sheet lifting, then recording image quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the conveyed object holding member serve multiple functions: it conveys the sheet forward, prevents sheet lifting at the conveyance path, and guides the sheet through the passage. By combining these functions into a single multi-functional component, the patent avoids the need for multiple separate driven rollers, thereby improving image quality without excessively increasing device complexity
3Reliability
If the contact pressure between drive roller and driven roller is released to remove jammed sheet, then sheet conveyance reliability improves, but productivity decreases due to conveyance interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the conveyed object holding member, which can rotate to convey sheets and also be controlled to release contact for removing jammed sheets. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain high reliability by releasing jams while minimizing productivity loss through quick recovery and continuous operation 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 design effectively reduces sheet damage and wrinkling by minimizing contact with guide plates, ensuring smooth and efficient conveyance of sheets with varying thicknesses and stiffnesses.
Implementation Method 1
a drive roller and a driven roller are pressed against each other and convey a sheet while nipping the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus includes a first guide plate and a second guide plate facing with a given space in a thickness direction and having second and third openings, a sheet conveyance passage between the first and second guide plates, and a sheet conveyor including a drive source, a drive roller, a first driven roller, and a second driven roller. The drive roller protrudes from the first guide plate toward the sheet conveyance passage through the first opening. The first driven roller faces the drive roller and protrudes from the second guide plate toward the sheet conveyance passage through the second opening. The second driven roller protrudes from the second guide plate toward the sheet conveyance passage through the third opening. The second driven roller is disposed at a position shifted from the drive roller in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction and the thickness direction.