Asymmetric Sheet Feeding Device Restricting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face issues with improper feeding and oblique movement of small-sized sheets due to variations in dimension and tolerance of component parts, leading to increased feeding resistance or gaps between the sheet and restricting surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding device with a stacking tray, first and second restricting members, and interrelating means that ensure equal distances from the center line to the restricting surfaces, allowing the supporting portions to cross the center position, reducing positional errors and inclination angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the length of the supporting portions with respect to the widthwise direction is made short to restrict side ends of small-sized originals, then the side ends can be properly restricted, but the degree of inclination of the restricting surfaces becomes large due to variations in dimension and tolerance, causing feeding resistance or gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the first and second supporting portions have different length directions. The first supporting portion extends in the widthwise direction while the second supporting portion extends in the lengthwise direction. This asymmetric configuration allows the restricting surfaces to remain substantially parallel to the feeding direction even when side restricting plates are brought close together, preventing both feeding resistance and gaps caused by inclination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the two side restricting plates are brought near to each other with respect to the widthwise direction to read small-sized originals, then small originals can be restricted, but the degree of inclination of the restricting surfaces increases due to component variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric supporting portions where the first supporting portion extends in the widthwise direction and the second supporting portion extends in the lengthwise direction. This asymmetric design decouples the positioning function from the parallelism maintenance function, allowing side restricting plates to be brought close for small originals while keeping restricting surfaces parallel through the geometric compensation provided by the orthogonal supporting portions.
3Measurement precision
If the supporting portions are inclined inward between the two side restricting plates, then the restricting function is enhanced, but feeding resistance becomes large causing improper feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric configuration with the first supporting portion extending in the widthwise direction and the second supporting portion extending in the lengthwise direction ensures that the restricting surfaces remain substantially parallel to the feeding direction. This prevents the inward inclination that would otherwise create feeding resistance, while still maintaining accurate restricting function through the orthogonal support geometry.
4Ease of operation
If the restricting surfaces are inclined outward with respect to the two side restricting plates, then the restricting function is reduced, but a gap is formed causing oblique movement during feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent's asymmetric supporting portions (first in widthwise direction, second in lengthwise direction) maintain the restricting surfaces substantially parallel to the feeding direction. This parallelism prevents gap formation that would cause oblique movement and sheet instability, while the asymmetric geometry itself provides the restricting function through the orthogonal support structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding device includes a stacking tray, a feeding portion, a first restricting member which includes a first restricting surface and a first supporting portion, a second restricting member which includes a second restricting surface and a second supporting portion, and an interrelating portion. In a state in which the first restricting surface and the second restricting surface are brought closest to each other, a part of the first restricting portion is positioned on a second restricting surface side with respect to a center line of the stacking tray, and a part of the second restricting portion is positioned on a first restricting surface side with respect to the center line.