Sheet Transport Device Axial Roller Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet transport devices face challenges in reducing skewing or distortion of sheets when moving pairs of transport rollers, as they often result in skewed or distorted sheets passing through upstream rollers during axial movement, leading to image formation errors in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The sheet transport device employs pairs of movable transport rollers that can move axially while upstream pairs of transport rollers are displaced in the same direction, maintaining contact with the sheet to correct deviations and prevent distortion, using a mechanism where support frames with movement support allow rollers to follow the axial movement of the transport rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pairs of transport rollers are moved in the axial direction to correct sheet position, then sheet position accuracy is improved, but skewing or distortion of the sheet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the upstream pairs of transport rollers movable in the axial direction, allowing them to dynamically adjust and follow the movement of the downstream movable transport rollers. This dynamic configuration enables the upstream rollers to maintain contact with the sheet while moving together, preventing sheet distortion during position correction operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support frames with movement support mechanisms act as intermediaries between the movable transport rollers and the fixed frame. These intermediaries enable the upstream rollers to follow the axial movement of downstream rollers while maintaining proper positioning and contact pressure, thus preventing sheet distortion during position correction.
2Measurement precision
If downstream movable transport rollers are displaced in axial direction to align sheet center, then image formation accuracy is improved, but sheet distortion occurs in upstream sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements Dynamics by configuring upstream transport rollers to be movable and capable of following the axial displacement of downstream rollers. This ensures that when downstream rollers move to align the sheet center for accurate image formation, the upstream rollers move simultaneously, maintaining sheet contact and preventing geometric distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport system is segmented into multiple independently controllable roller pairs, with upstream rollers able to move independently to follow downstream roller movement. This segmentation allows each section to adapt to position changes without causing distortion to adjacent sections.
3Device complexity
If fixed transport rollers are used to maintain sheet contact, then sheet control is simplified, but skewing increases when downstream rollers move axially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making upstream transport rollers dynamic rather than fixed. The upstream rollers are equipped with movement support mechanisms that allow them to follow the axial movement of downstream rollers, maintaining sheet contact and preventing skewing while enabling position correction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The upstream rollers utilize the movement of downstream rollers to drive their own displacement through the movement support mechanisms. When downstream rollers move axially to correct sheet position, the upstream rollers automatically follow this movement through their support frames, eliminating the need for separate actuation systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet transport device includes a pair of movable transport rollers capable of transporting a sheet while holding the sheet and capable of moving in an axial direction crossing a transportation direction; pairs of first transport rollers disposed upstream from the pair of movable transport rollers in the transportation direction while being spaced apart from each other to transport the sheet while holding the sheet; and pairs of transport guides disposed to define sheet transport spaces between the pair of movable transport rollers and the pairs of first transport rollers and between the pairs of first transport rollers. When the pair of movable transport rollers is to be moved in the axial direction, at least one of the pairs of first transport rollers is displaced in the axial direction while holding a portion of the transported sheet.