Sheet Discharge Roll Wall Structure for Stable Sheet Stacking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet discharge and accommodation devices in image forming apparatuses face issues where the rear end of discharged sheets can enter the gap between the discharge roll and the side wall surface of the accommodation portion, leading to potential misalignment and accommodation failures.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a moving unit with a discharge roll that reciprocates in the width direction, featuring a wall surface portion and a recessed portion to prevent the rear end of the sheet from entering the gap between the discharge roll and the side wall surface, ensuring proper alignment and accommodation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a discharge roll is used to discharge sheets to an accommodation portion, then sheet discharge function is improved, but the rear end of sheets may enter the gap between the discharge roll and side wall surface causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
A wall surface portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the discharge roll and the accommodation portion. This wall surface portion fills the gap that would otherwise allow sheet rear ends to enter, thereby preventing misalignment while maintaining the discharge function. The wall surface portion acts as a mediator that blocks the harmful path without interfering with the useful discharge operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge roll reciprocates in the width direction, then sheet discharge flexibility is improved, but the gap between discharge roll and side wall surface varies causing sheet entry issues
Solution Approach 1:
The wall surface portion serves as a reliable intermediary that compensates for the varying gap caused by reciprocation. Regardless of the discharge roll's position in the width direction, the wall surface portion maintains a consistent blocking function against sheet rear ends entering the gap, thereby ensuring reliable accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The problem of gap variation in the width direction is solved by introducing a structure in the discharge direction (the wall surface portion extending from the accommodation portion). This dimensional approach creates a barrier that effectively seals the gap regardless of lateral position changes.
3Device complexity
If no wall surface portion is provided, then device structure is simple, but sheet rear end misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The wall surface portion is designed as a minimal intermediary structure that integrates with the existing accommodation portion. It extends from the accommodation portion toward the discharge roll, creating an effective barrier with minimal additional complexity while solving the alignment precision problem.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet discharge and accommodation device includes: a main body having a discharge port; an accommodation portion having an accommodation surface on which a sheet discharged from the discharge port is accommodated and a side wall surface that extends from one end of the accommodation surface to a lower end of the discharge port; a discharge roll that pinches the sheet between plural roll bodies disposed on plural shafts and discharges the sheet from the discharge port to the accommodation portion; a moving unit that is provided with the discharge roll and reciprocates in a width direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet; and a wall surface portion that is provided in the moving unit, is present at least in a space from an upper end of the side wall surface to a shaft that is closer to the upper end among the plural shafts, and is present on a downstream side of the side wall surface in the discharge direction.