Single Drive Source for Adjustable Sheet Support in Image Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses experience variations in pressing force during sheet feeding, leading to issues like double sheet feed, sheet misfeed, and noisy operations due to the pivotal movement of the sheet pressure plate, which increases manufacturing costs when additional drive sources are used to maintain precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A single drive source is used to displace the support member from a receiving position to a feeding position, ensuring a constant pressing force on the recording medium, thereby improving feeding accuracy and reducing noise, while also serving as a common drive source for both the photoreceptor and support member, eliminating the need for additional drive sources and associated costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive source is used to displace the support member, then manufacturing cost is reduced and device complexity is simplified, but feeding accuracy and pressing force consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single drive source is designed to perform multiple functions: it drives both the photoreceptor rotation and the support member displacement. The drive source includes a motor that can selectively engage with different transmission mechanisms to achieve different functions, making the system more compact and cost-effective while maintaining performance through careful design of the transmission paths
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is designed to be dynamically adjustable in position along the axial direction of the photoreceptor. The drive source can control the support member's position to optimize the pressing force and feeding accuracy for each sheet, allowing the system to adapt to varying conditions and maintain high precision despite using a single drive source
2Manufacturing precision
If the support member is displaced to maintain precise positioning, then feeding accuracy improves, but noise increases due to continuous adjustment movements
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is positioned and pressed against the photoreceptor in advance before sheet feeding begins. The drive source adjusts the support member position to the optimal location beforehand, and then maintains this position during the feeding operation, eliminating continuous adjustment movements and reducing noise while preserving positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The drive source performs positioning adjustments only when necessary (e.g., when a new sheet is loaded or when positioning drift occurs), rather than continuously during operation. This periodic adjustment approach maintains feeding accuracy while minimizing operational noise by avoiding constant movement
3Ease of operation
If the support member is spring biased toward the photoreceptor, then feeding operation is simplified, but pressing force varies with the number and size of sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The drive source incorporates sensing capabilities to detect the position of the support member and the state of sheet loading. Based on this feedback information, the drive source automatically adjusts the support member position and pressing force to maintain consistency regardless of the number or size of sheets, while keeping the operation simple through automated control
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium is disclosed which includes: a first drive source; a photoreceptor driven for movement by a driving force applied thereto from the first drive source; a support member supporting the recording medium to be fed toward the photoreceptor, displaceable between a receiving position allowing reception of the recording medium on the support member, and a feeding position allowing feeding of the recording medium from the support member toward the photoreceptor; and a drive mechanism operable by a driving force applied thereto from the first drive source to displace the support member from the receiving position to the feeding position.