Twin-Roller Paper Feed Mechanism for Compact Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses, such as printers, face challenges in reducing their size due to the need for a large multipurpose feed roller to feed and separate paper sheets, which enlarges the device in both horizontal and vertical directions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a twin-roller feed-in mechanism with a smaller feed-in roller and separation roller, where the opposition position between the separation roller and separation member is located further from the device's side surface than the first conveyance passage, allowing for a more compact design by reducing the diameter of the rollers and optimizing their placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single multipurpose feed roller is used to feed and separate paper sheets, then the paper feed and separation functions are integrated, but the roller diameter must be large and the apparatus size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single multipurpose feed roller into two separate rollers: a feed roller for feeding paper sheets and a separation roller for separating them. This segmentation allows each roller to have a smaller diameter while maintaining the combined functionality of the original single roller, thereby reducing the overall apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separation pad as an intermediary element that works in conjunction with the separation roller. The separation pad provides the necessary friction and contact surface for effective paper separation, allowing the separation roller to have a smaller diameter since it doesn't need to directly contact and separate all papers alone.
2Ease of operation
If the feed roller is arranged close to the tray to abut on paper sheets, then the feeding mechanism is compact, but the apparatus size increases in horizontal and vertical directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a single roller contacting papers horizontally to a twin-roller system with vertical separation. The feed roller feeds papers horizontally while the separation roller, positioned vertically above with a separation pad, separates papers in the vertical dimension. This dimensional change allows compact horizontal arrangement while maintaining separation effectiveness.
3Reliability
If a large diameter roller is used for paper feed and separation, then reliable paper handling is achieved, but the apparatus becomes larger in both horizontal and vertical directions
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the paper handling function into feeding and separation tasks performed by two smaller rollers instead of one large roller, the patent maintains reliable paper handling through specialized functions while reducing the volume required for each component and the overall apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation pad acts as an intermediary that enhances the separation effectiveness between the separation roller and paper sheets. This intermediary element allows the use of smaller diameter rollers while maintaining reliable paper separation, as the pad provides the necessary friction and contact area that would otherwise require a larger roller diameter.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus that includes: a housing that has a sheet member feed-in port on a side of one side surface thereof; a feed-in mechanism disposed in a second conveyance passage to feed the sheet member from the sheet member feed-in port to a side of a junction point between a first conveyance passage and the second conveyance passage. The feed-in mechanism includes: a feed-in roller that feeds the sheet member into the sheet member feed-in port; a separation member disposed on a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the sheet member with respect to the feed-in roller; and a separation roller. An opposition position between the separation member and the separation roller is located further from the one side surface than the first conveyance passage and is located closer to the one side surface than the junction point.