Front-Access Sheet Inversion Conveyance Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face usability issues due to the need for rear-side access for sheet feeding and ejection, leading to increased footprint, inconsistent printing order, and poor security as printed sheets are ejected with their image surface facing upwards, making it difficult to manage sheet jams and maintain page order consistency.
Innovation Solution
A novel image forming apparatus design featuring a detachable sheet feeding cassette with a front-side feeding position, a switchback conveyance unit, and a front and back side inversion conveyance unit that inverts and directs printed sheets to face down, along with a partially openable front side wall for manual access and a bypass sheet feeding/ejection unit, allowing for consistent page order and improved usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the sheet feeding cassette is designed with rear-side access for sheet feeding and ejection, then the apparatus can maintain a compact structure, but the footprint increases and usability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rear-side access design by providing front-side access for both sheet feeding and ejection operations. The sheet feeding cassette is designed with a front-side opening that allows users to insert sheets and remove printed documents from the front of the apparatus, eliminating the need for rear-side access and improving usability without increasing footprint.
2Device complexity
If the conveyance path is designed to feed sheets from rear side, then the apparatus structure can be simplified, but sheet jam handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rear-side feeding arrangement by implementing a front-side feeding mechanism. The conveyance path is designed with rollers and guides positioned at the front side of the apparatus, allowing sheets to be fed from the front and enabling users to easily access and handle sheet jams at the front-side opening rather than reaching into the rear of the apparatus.
3Device complexity
If printed sheets are ejected with image surface facing upwards, then the ejection mechanism can be simple, but security deteriorates and page order becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional ejection orientation by designing the ejection mechanism to release printed sheets with the image surface facing downward. The conveyance path includes an inversion section that flips the sheet orientation before ejection, so that the printed surface is hidden and subsequent sheets are stacked on the unprinted side, maintaining security and consistent page order while adding minimal complexity to the ejection mechanism.
4Ease of operation
If the conveyance path is extended to allow front-side access, then usability improves, but the apparatus footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical space by arranging the conveyance path and sheet feeding cassette in a compact configuration that extends vertically rather than horizontally. The front-side access mechanism is integrated within the existing depth of the apparatus, using vertical stacking of components to provide front-side access without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus comprises a sheet feeding cassette, a printing unit, and a sheet ejection tray. A first conveyance unit feeds the recording sheet from a front side of the sheet feeding cassette and inverts and conveys it to the printing unit. A path of a switchback conveyance unit extends from the printing unit to let the recording sheet switch back after the printing in an opposite direction to that the recording sheet is conveyed to the printing unit. A front and back side inversion conveyance unit conveys the printing sheet to the sheet ejection tray with a printed surface of the printing sheet facing down. Both of the sheet feeding position on the conveyance unit and the front and back side inversion conveyance unit are arranged on the front side in the image forming apparatus.