Sheet Conveyance Roller Holder With Inclined Guides

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet conveyance apparatuses face challenges in efficiently utilizing space around rollers while maintaining stable sheet conveyance direction, leading to potential sheet misalignment and jamming due to changes in conveyance direction.

Innovation Solution

A sheet conveyance apparatus with a roller pair configuration that includes a biasing member and guided portions for the roller holder, allowing the rollers to transition between contact and reduced contact states, with inclined guiding paths to maintain a stable conveyance direction and reduce space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the roller holder is pressed by a spring to bring rollers into contact, then the rollers can convey sheets reliably, but the space around rollers cannot be efficiently utilized and the sheet conveyance direction may change significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet conveyance reliabilityVSAvoidspace utilization around rollers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The roller holder is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The holder can move in the conveyance direction while being guided by inclined guides, enabling the system to maintain reliable sheet conveyance through controlled contact while adapting to space constraints in the apparatus configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces inclined guides that constrain the roller holder's movement along a specific angled path rather than allowing free movement. This dimensional constraint directs the holder's motion in a controlled manner, maintaining reliable contact between rollers while efficiently utilizing the available space around the rollers in the apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the roller holder is pressed by a spring to bring rollers into contact, then the rollers can convey sheets reliably, but the sheet conveyance direction changes significantly causing misalignment and jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet conveyance reliabilityVSAvoidsheet conveyance direction stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined guides provide a mechanical feedback mechanism that constrains the roller holder's movement along a specific angled path. As the holder moves during operation, the guides continuously regulate its position and orientation, providing real-time control that maintains stable sheet conveyance direction and prevents misalignment or jamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the roller holder is pressed by a spring to bring rollers into contact, then the rollers can convey sheets reliably, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet conveyance reliabilityVSAvoidroller holder structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The roller holder integrates multiple functions into a single component: it holds the roller, provides the pressing force through spring integration, and incorporates guided portions that interact with the inclined guides. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining reliable sheet conveyance functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The roller holder is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs roller support, biasing force application, and guided movement. The guided portions on the holder serve both to constrain movement and to interface with the inclined guides, creating a universal component that handles multiple tasks and reduces structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables efficient use of space around rollers, stabilizes sheet conveyance, reduces the likelihood of sheet misalignment and jamming, and allows for cost-effective material selection for rollers.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing member, a roller holder configured to hold the first roller and to be biased by the biasing member so that the first roller is biased toward the second roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12434929B2Sheet conveyance apparatus and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a roller pair having first and second rollers, a roller holder having first and second guided portions, and a guiding portion having first and second guides. The first and second rollers can take a first state where the first roller contacts the second roller with a predetermined force and take a second state where the predetermined force is reduced. A first direction in which the first guide guides the first guided portion is inclined relative to a second direction in which the second guide guides the second guided portion. When viewed in a rotational axis direction of the first roller with the first and second rollers in the first state, an angle formed by a straight line passing through rotational centers of the first and second rollers and the first direction is smaller than an angle formed by the straight line and the second direction.