Variable Thickness Plate Material for Recording Material Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
The quality of images formed on recording materials can be compromised due to variations in the angle of the leading end and support of the recording material during transport, leading to either a strong support at the leading end or a weak support at the rear end, which affects image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a guide section and a plate material that is more easily elastically deformable, where the plate material is thinner downstream in the transport direction than upstream, to guide the recording material and mitigate bounce and improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the plate material is made uniformly thick, then the manufacturing is simple, but the image quality deteriorates due to improper support of recording material
Solution Approach 1:
The plate material is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies in the transport direction. Specifically, the plate material is thinner at the leading end side and thicker at the rear end side, providing differentiated support characteristics to different portions of the recording material to optimize image quality while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If the leading end of recording material is supported strongly, then the image quality improves, but the rear end support becomes insufficient causing bounce
Solution Approach 1:
The plate material provides differentiated support strength through its non-uniform thickness distribution. The leading end portion has smaller thickness to allow controlled bounce for angle adjustment, while the rear end portion has larger thickness to provide strong support and prevent excessive bounce, thereby simultaneously achieving image quality improvement and transport stability.
3Reliability
If the rear end of recording material is supported strongly, then the transport stability improves, but the image quality deteriorates due to excessive bounce
Solution Approach 1:
The plate material's thickness is optimized to provide appropriate support characteristics at different locations. The rear end has greater thickness for strong support to prevent bounce, while the leading end has smaller thickness to allow controlled deformation for angle adjustment, resolving the contradiction between transport stability and image quality.
4Manufacturing precision
If the plate material thickness varies, then the image quality improves through better recording material support, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate material utilizes thickness variation as a key parameter change to achieve differentiated support characteristics. This single parameter modification (thickness in the transport direction) enables the plate material to provide both strong support where needed and controlled flexibility where needed, improving image quality without requiring complex multi-component structures.
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
The solution effectively suppresses image quality reduction by providing controlled support to both the leading and rear ends of the recording material, ensuring stable transport and minimizing toner scattering, thus maintaining image quality across varying paper types and thicknesses.
Implementation Method 1
a plate material that is provided on the guide section and that is more easily elastically deformable than the guide section
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer section, a guide section, and a plate material. The transfer section transfers an image to a recording material. The guide section guides the recording material toward the transfer section. The plate material is provided on the guide section, and is more easily elastically deformable than the guide section. The plate material guides the recording material, which is transported to the plate material, along a plate surface of the plate material. The plate material is thinner on a downstream side in a transport direction than on an upstream side.