Auxiliary restricting member for sheet positioning accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet loading devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately positioning sheets in the width direction due to variations in sheet width, leading to potential buckling or displacement, which affects image formation quality.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a sheet loading device featuring a sheet tray with a lift plate, a restricting part, and an auxiliary restricting member that applies varying biasing forces to accurately position sheets based on the number of sheets loaded, ensuring precise alignment even with different sheet widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guide member position is fixed to accommodate maximum sheet width tolerance, then sheets with varying widths can be loaded without buckling, but a gap is generated between the guide member and sheets leading to inaccurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on the actual sheet width. The guide member can move along the width direction to contact the sheet edge accurately, eliminating the gap problem while maintaining reliability across different sheet widths
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member position parameter is made variable instead of fixed. By allowing the guide member to change its position parameter along the width direction, the system can adapt to different sheet widths and maintain accurate positioning without requiring extremely precise manufacturing of the guide member positions
2Reliability
If the guide member is made movable to adjust for different sheet widths, then positioning accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member mechanism is segmented into independent components: the guide member itself, the rack with teeth, and the pinion gear. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply and independently, reducing overall complexity while achieving the movable positioning function
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member mechanism is designed to be self-adjusting through the engagement of the rack and pinion gear. When one guide member moves, the teeth engagement automatically transmits the motion to the other guide member, eliminating the need for complex external control systems or additional actuators
3Ease of manufacture
If a rigid fixing structure is used for guide members, then manufacturing is simpler, but the ability to accommodate sheet width variations and maintain contact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member transitions from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic movable structure. While still relatively simple to manufacture, the guide member can now move along the width direction to maintain reliable contact with sheets of varying widths, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and contact reliability
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
This solution ensures accurate sheet positioning in the width direction, preventing buckling and displacement, and allows for a coarser setting of guide member positions, reducing the risk of damage and maintaining image formation quality across varying sheet widths.
Implementation Method 1
The auxiliary restricting member restricts, with first biasing force, the side edge of the sheets lifted by the lift plate when the number of sheets housed in the sheet tray is a first number of sheets, and restricts, with second biasing force that is greater than the first biasing force, the side edge of the sheets lifted by the lift plate when the number of sheets housed in the sheet tray is a second number of sheets that is greater than the first number of sheets.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet loading device includes a sheet tray, a lift plate, a restricting part, and an auxiliary restricting member. The restricting part is movable to a plurality of predetermined fixed positions and restricts a position of the sheets in a sheet width direction. The auxiliary restricting member is disposed on the one edge side of the restricting part. The auxiliary restricting member restricts, with first biasing force, the side edge of the sheets lifted by the lift plate when the number of sheets housed in the sheet tray is a first number of sheets, and restricts, with second biasing force that is greater than the first biasing force, the side edge of the sheets lifted by the lift plate when the number of sheets housed in the sheet tray is a second number of sheets that is greater than the first number of sheets.