Sheet Separator Pivoting Pressing Body for Edge Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet separators fail to efficiently displace multiple sheets within a bundle at their edges using a simple mechanism, which is necessary for effective sheet post-processing and binding in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A sheet separator incorporating a first driving roller and a pressing body that rotates and pivots to cause sheets to deviate from each other at edges, utilizing a combination of a first driving roller and a pressing roller to perform both bending and conveyance functions, thereby achieving edge displacement with a minimal number of driving sources and a compact mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complex mechanism with multiple driving sources is used to displace sheets at edges, then the sheet displacement effect is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bending function and conveyance function into a single integrated mechanism. The pressing body is configured to pivot about the rotation shaft of the driving roller, allowing both bending (for sheet separation) and conveyance to be performed by one driving source, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining sheet displacement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The driving roller serves multiple functions: it conveys the sheet bundle, the pressing body pivots about its rotation shaft to perform bending, and together they achieve both separation and conveyance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate driving sources for each function, reducing overall mechanism complexity
2Reliability
If multiple driving sources are used to perform bending and conveyance, then the sheet separation performance is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driving functions for bending and conveyance into a single driving roller. The pressing body pivots about the rotation shaft of this single driving roller, allowing one motor to provide torque for both bending (through the pressing body's pivoting motion) and conveyance (through the driving roller's rotation), thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable sheet separation
Solution Approach 2:
The single driving roller performs dual functions: rotating to convey sheets and enabling the pressing body to pivot for bending. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of motors and driving sources, directly lowering power consumption while ensuring reliable sheet separation through coordinated bending and conveyance actions
3Device complexity
If a simple mechanism with fewer driving sources is used, then the device size and power consumption are reduced, but the sheet displacement capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing body is designed to pivot dynamically about the rotation shaft of the driving roller during operation. This dynamic pivoting motion allows the pressing body to apply bending force to the sheet bundle while being driven by the same motor that rotates the driving roller, enabling effective sheet separation with a single driving source and maintaining displacement precision without increasing mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing body acts as an intermediary between the driving roller and the sheet bundle. It pivots about the rotation shaft to transmit and amplify the driving force into bending motion, effectively mediating the conversion of rotational motion into the separation action needed, thus achieving precise sheet displacement with a simple single-driver mechanism
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
This solution allows for efficient displacement of sheets at the edges, ensuring adequate adhesion force for binding, particularly effective for thin sheets, while reducing device size and power consumption by utilizing a simple mechanism with fewer driving sources.
Implementation Method 1
The first driving roller conveys a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets
Implementation Method 2
The pressing body pivots in the first direction about the first rotation shaft with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body to cause the plurality of sheets to deviate from one another at edges
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a sheet separator has a first driving roller and a pressing body. The first driving roller rotates about a first rotation shaft. The first driving roller conveys a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets. The pressing body is capable of approaching the first driving roller. The first driving roller is rotatable in a first direction with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body. The pressing body pivots in the first direction about the first rotation shaft with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body to cause the plurality of sheets to deviate from one another at edges.