Sheet Guide Backlash Reduction via Magnetic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveying apparatuses and image recording devices face issues with guide member backlash, instability, and size due to pivotally attached components, leading to noise and unreliable sheet guidance and pressing forces.
Innovation Solution
A conveying apparatus with a cover member comprising resin members and a metal frame, where the resin members have different guide surfaces and coefficients of friction, and the metal frame stabilizes the resin members, reducing backlash and allowing for smooth sheet guidance without the need for additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guide member is constructed to be moved pivotally with respect to the main body, then the sheet can be guided through the conveyance passage, but the position of the guide member becomes unstable and noise appears due to backlash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pivotal mechanical connection with a magnetic field-based interaction. The guide member includes a magnet that magnetically interacts with a ferromagnetic substance in the casing, eliminating mechanical contact and backlash while maintaining positioning functionality. This substitution resolves the instability and noise issues associated with pivotal movement.
2Force
If a cover member is urged by a plurality of compression coil springs arranged with spacing distances, then the sheet can be pressed against the resist roller, but the apparatus becomes large-sized requiring additional space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical compression coil springs with a magnetic field-based urging mechanism. The magnet in the guide member magnetically interacts with the ferromagnetic substance in the casing to provide the necessary pressing force on the sheet, eliminating the need for physical springs and the space they occupy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and interaction mechanism from mechanical contact (springs) to magnetic field interaction. By utilizing magnetic field strength as the urging parameter instead of mechanical spring compression, the system achieves the same pressing force without the spatial requirements of traditional spring mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the guide member is pivotally moved individually with respect to the main body, then the conveyance passage can be exposed for sheet removal, but backlash causes noise and position instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the pivotal mechanical connection that causes backlash by using magnetic field interaction between the guide member's magnet and the ferromagnetic substance in the casing. This non-contact interaction maintains guide member positioning while exposing the conveyance passage, without generating noise from mechanical backlash.
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 noise and stabilizes the guide member positions, ensuring reliable sheet guidance and miniaturization of the apparatus by uniformly applying pressing forces across the sheet.
Implementation Method 1
a guide member (67) positioned outwardly in relation to the curved passage, having a magnet which magnetically interacts with a ferromagnetic substance formed at the inside of the casing (14)
Implementation Method 2
a resin member positioned outwardly in relation to the curved passage, having both end portions in a widthwise direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet which are supported by the casing (14), and having a central portion in the widthwise direction which is elastically deformable to be warped outwardly in relation to the curved passage
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying apparatus includes: a casing formed with a first sheet-conveyance passage and a second sheet-conveyance passage positioned inwardly as compared with the first sheet-conveyance passage; a cover member including a first resin member having a first guide surface for defining the first sheet-conveyance passage, a second resin member attached to the first resin member and located on an inner side of the casing than the first guide surface and defining the first sheet-conveyance passage, and a third resin member attached to the second resin member at a position opposite to the first resin member with respect to the second resin member and having a third guide surface for defining the second sheet-conveyance passage; and a metal frame attached to the second resin member at a position between the second resin member and the third resin member.