Sheet Discharge Guide Member with Recede Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet discharge devices with destaticizing brushes and full-load detection levers risk damaging the brush due to being sandwiched, leading to curled and deformed tips that compromise destaticizing performance and result in poor sheet quality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a guide member with a recede portion that accepts the destaticizing brush when pushed by the sheet, preventing it from being sandwiched and maintaining stable contact, while the detection lever turns to guide and stack sheets without causing deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the destaticizing brush and full-load detection lever are used together in the sheet discharge device, then the sheet can be discharged with static electricity removal and full-load detection functions, but the destaticizing brush may be damaged by being sandwiched between the full-load detection lever and the sheet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidbrush durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide member as an intermediary component between the destaticizing brush and the full-load detection lever. This guide member includes a recede portion that provides clearance space, preventing the brush from being sandwiched during sheet discharge. The intermediary structure resolves the conflict by allowing both the brush and lever to coexist without direct interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a guide portion that directs the sheet and a recede portion that provides clearance for the brush. This segmentation allows the structure to fulfill multiple functions while preventing the harmful sandwiching effect on the destaticizing brush.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the destaticizing brush tips become curled and deformed from being sandwiched, then the brush structure changes, but the destaticizing performance becomes unstable and sheet quality deteriorates due to contact marks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddestaticizing performance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The recede portion of the guide member acts as a preventive cushioning structure. By providing clearance space before the brush can be sandwiched, it prevents the harmful deformation of brush tips. This beforehand protection ensures the brush maintains its proper shape and consistent destaticizing performance throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harmful effect of the lever brushing against the brush into a beneficial arrangement where the guide member's recede portion intentionally provides clearance. This design transforms what could be a damaging interaction into a protected configuration that maintains brush integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Prevents damage to the destaticizing brush, maintains stable destaticizing performance, and ensures high-quality sheet stacking by avoiding contact marks, while allowing for accurate full-load detection and a compact device design.

Implementation Method 1

a destaticizing brush coming into contact with the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge portion and destaticizing the sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Implementation Method 2

a guide member turning by being pushed by the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge portion and guiding the sheet to a stacking portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS9187284B2Sheet discharge device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.11.17 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge portion configured to discharge a sheet, a destaticizing brush coming into contact with the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge portion and destaticizing the sheet, and a guide member turning by being pushed by the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge portion and guiding the sheet to a stacking portion on which the discharged sheet is to be stacked. The guide member includes a guide portion guiding the discharged sheet to the stacking portion and a recede portion provided at a position facing the destaticizing brush and accepting the destaticizing brush deformed by being pushed by the sheet.