Sheet Gripping Mechanism With Protuberance for Discharge Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer systems face challenges in securely holding printed sheets at the discharge port without a conveyance mechanism, which can be costly and complex to implement.
Innovation Solution
A simple sheet gripping mechanism using two sheet guides with a protuberance that gently contacts the sheet to apply pressure, ensuring it is held in place without complex mechanisms, allowing for easy sheet retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conveyance mechanism (conveyance belt and conveyance roller) is arranged in the vicinity of the discharge port to hold the sheet, then the sheet can be securely held at the discharge port, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sheet holding function from the conveyance mechanism by introducing a dedicated sheet guide with a protuberance that specifically contacts the sheet edge to prevent falling, separating this function from the general conveyance system
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet guide is divided into functional segments: the guide surface for directing the sheet and the protuberance for contacting the sheet edge, allowing each segment to perform its specific function independently
2Reliability
If a structurally-complex mechanism is arranged at the discharge port only for holding the sheet, then the sheet can be securely held, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet guide is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, avoiding the need for expensive complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet guide serves multiple functions: it guides the sheet during conveyance and simultaneously holds the sheet at the discharge port, eliminating the need for separate dedicated holding mechanisms
3Device complexity
If no conveyance mechanism is present in the vicinity of the discharge port, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sheet may fall down before being picked up by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet guide acts as an intermediary component between the conveyance system and the discharged sheet, providing a transition mechanism that ensures the sheet is held securely without requiring complex conveyance components at the discharge port
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet gripping mechanism includes a first sheet guide including a guide surface facing a sheet conveyance path along which a sheet is to be conveyed and a second sheet guide which faces the first sheet guide across the sheet conveyance path. The second sheet guide includes a protuberance extending toward the first sheet guide, to locations beyond the guide surface formed by the first sheet guide. When a sheet is located between the first sheet guide and the protuberance of the second sheet guide, the protuberance extends at least a portion of the sheet toward the first sheet guide to bring a part of a surface of the sheet into contact with the first sheet guide.