Swingable Sheet Conveyance Guide for Jam Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and printers, sheet conveying devices face challenges with paper jams due to curling caused by heat during the fixing process, which complicates conveyance failures and requires effective jam clearance mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A novel sheet conveying device with a pair of conveyors, one of which includes an exposed face, a handle, and a swing fulcrum, allowing the conveyance face to be swung outside the apparatus for easy access and jam clearance, combined with a fixing device featuring a heat source and rotators to form a nip for toner fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conveyance guide is made swingable to facilitate jam clearance, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance guide is designed to be swingable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position dynamically. The guide can swing between a closed position during normal operation and an open position during jam clearance, providing ease of access without requiring complete disassembly or complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is divided into separate components: a fixed conveyance guide and a swingable conveyance guide. This segmentation allows the swingable portion to be independently operated for jam clearance while the fixed portion maintains structural stability, balancing accessibility with structural integrity
2Ease of operation
If the handle is positioned for ergonomic operation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle incorporates a curved or arc-shaped portion that follows the natural movement path of the user's hand during operation. This curved geometry allows the user to apply force in a natural sweeping motion, reducing wrist strain and improving ergonomics without requiring complex mechanical assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The handle's curved geometry is designed to naturally guide the user's hand movement and leverage the user's own body mechanics to operate the swingable conveyance guide. The design uses the user's natural arm and wrist motion to provide the necessary operating force, eliminating the need for additional springs, motors, or complex linkages
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
Facilitates efficient jam clearance by providing accessible and ergonomic handle operation, reducing wrist strain and enhancing visibility, while maintaining the apparatus's compact size and reducing assembly costs through integrated handle design.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing rotator that rotates while being heated by the heat source
Implementation Method 2
The swing fulcrum swings the one of the pair of conveyors to expose the conveyance face to the outside of the image forming apparatus when the handle is operated
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying device includes a pair of conveyors each including a conveyance face to convey a recording medium inside an image forming apparatus. One of the pair of conveyors further includes an exposed face, a handle, and a swing fulcrum. The exposed face is exposed to an outside of the apparatus while an inside of the apparatus is open. The handle is exposed to the outside of the apparatus and operatable to expose the conveyance face to the outside of the apparatus while the inside of the apparatus is open. The swing fulcrum swings the one of the pair of conveyors to expose the conveyance face to the outside of the apparatus when the handle is operated while the inside of the apparatus is open. The handle includes a partial annular portion. The partial annular portion is included in a plane including a swing direction around the swing fulcrum.