Staggered Roller Start Timing Reduces Vibration Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet feeders in image forming apparatuses often generate vibration sounds during operation, particularly when multiple sheets are fed, due to the simultaneous start of rotation of the delivery and supply rollers, leading to inefficiencies and noise.

Innovation Solution

The sheet feeder incorporates a rotating unit with a first and second drive transmission mechanism, where the supply roller starts rotating after the delivery roller, ensuring a staggered start that reduces vibration and noise by extending the drive transmission period of the supply roller mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the delivery roller and supply roller start rotating simultaneously, then the sheet feeding operation is efficient and rapid, but vibration sounds are generated during the idling period

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet feeding efficiencyVSAvoidvibration sound
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supply roller starts rotating before the delivery roller completes its rotation, performing the supply function in advance. This preliminary action of the supply roller prevents the harmful vibration sound that would occur if both rollers started simultaneously, while still maintaining efficient sheet feeding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the supply roller starts rotating after the delivery roller, then vibration sounds are reduced, but the drive transmission period of the supply roller mechanism must be extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration soundVSAvoiddrive transmission period
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The supply roller starts rotating before the delivery roller completes its rotation, performing the supply function in advance. This preliminary action of the supply roller prevents the harmful vibration sound that would occur if both rollers started simultaneously, while still maintaining efficient sheet feeding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10144600B2Sheet feeder, reading apparatus and image forming apparatus that reduce vibration sound in association with idling of supply roller
Publication Date: 2018.12.04 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • US10144600B2 patent drawing
  • US10144600B2 patent drawing
  • US10144600B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A sheet feeder includes a delivery roller, a supply roller, a separating member, a driving source, a first drive transmission mechanism, a second drive transmission mechanism, and a controller. The first drive transmission mechanism transmits the rotary drive power in the first direction to the delivery roller in a first drive transmission time from the start of driving of the driving source. The second drive transmission mechanism transmits the rotary drive power in the first direction to the supply roller in a second drive transmission time from the start of driving of the driving source. The second drive transmission period of the second drive transmission mechanism is longer than the first drive transmission period of the first drive transmission mechanism. When the control starts driving the driving source, the supply roller starts to rotate in the first direction after the delivery roller starts to rotate in the first direction.