Sheet Discharging Apparatus Moving Support Members Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, the alignment of discharged sheets is often degraded due to friction with previously stacked sheets, despite the use of guide members to support the sheets during discharge, as the leading edge of newly discharged sheets can hang down and rub against the upper surface of stacked sheets due to gravity.
Innovation Solution
A sheet discharging apparatus with a guide member and moving support members that protrude downstream to guide the lower surface of the sheet, ensuring the sheet is supported and aligned to prevent degradation, with the support members positioned to prevent the sheet from hanging down and contacting the upper surface of the stacked sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a guide member is used to support the lower surface of the sheet during discharge, then the sheet alignment is improved, but the leading edge of the sheet hangs down due to gravity and rubs the upper surface of the stacked sheet, causing alignment degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is divided into multiple segments: the guide member supports the lower surface of the sheet, while additional support members are introduced to specifically support the leading edge region. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of the alignment problem without causing harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Support members are introduced as intermediary elements between the guide member and the stacked sheet. These support members prevent the leading edge from hanging down and contacting the stacked sheet, thereby eliminating the friction-induced misalignment while maintaining the alignment benefits of the guide member.
2Device complexity
If the support members protrude upstream (second position), then the device complexity is reduced, but the sheet cannot be properly supported downstream, causing alignment degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed to be movable between two positions (upstream and downstream) rather than being fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements, providing proper downstream support when needed while simplifying the device structure when the support function is not required.
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 effectively suppresses the degradation of sheet alignment by maintaining the sheet's position and preventing friction-induced misalignment during discharge, ensuring accurate stacking.
Implementation Method 1
a roller pair that nips and conveys the sheet
Implementation Method 2
the leading edge of the sheet in the middle of the discharge hangs down by the force of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet discharging apparatus includes a guide member configured to guide a lower surface of a sheet, a discharge roller pair, a stacking portion, and a first moving member and a second moving member each configured to move to a first position and a second position, the first position being a position where the first moving member and the second moving member protrude downstream of the discharge roller pair in the sheet discharge direction, the second position being a position located upstream of the first position in the sheet discharge direction. Support portions of the first moving member and the second moving member in the first position protrude upward in a height direction with respect to a tangent of a lower roller of the discharge roller pair when viewed in a sheet width direction.