Damping Unit for Manual Feed Tray Impact Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual sheet feeding devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing the impact of opening/closing the manual feed tray while maintaining operability, especially with heavier trays that require stronger coil springs, which can lead to unintentional closure.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with an opening/closing unit that includes a support part for sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets, and a damping unit that generates a resistance force only when the opening/closing unit is pivoted from the closed to the opened position, reducing the impact and improving operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a stronger coil spring is used to reduce the impact of opening a heavier manual feed tray, then the impact reduction is improved, but the urging force causes the tray to be unintentionally closed, worsening operability
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is segmented from the coil spring function. The damping unit operates only during the opening motion to reduce impact, while the coil spring provides urging force for closing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping unit dynamically engages only when the manual feed tray is being opened, providing resistance force during the opening motion. When the tray is stationary or being closed, the damping unit does not exert force, allowing the coil spring to provide its urging force without causing unintentional closure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a tension coil spring is used to reduce impact during opening, then the impact is reduced, but the spring applies continuous urging force that affects operability
Solution Approach 1:
The damping unit provides resistance force periodically - only during the opening motion phase. It does not exert force during closing or when the tray is stationary, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces impact when needed while maintaining operability at other times.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping unit dynamically activates only during opening motion, creating a conditional force application. This dynamic behavior allows the system to reduce impact during opening while maintaining full operability during closing and stationary phases.
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 reduces the impact of opening the manual feed tray while maintaining improved operability by using a damping unit that applies resistance only during the opening motion, thus preventing unintentional closure and enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a damping unit that is included in the opening/closing unit and configured to damp a movement of the opening/closing unit from the closed position to the opened position
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a housing configured to store a sheet conveyance unit for conveying a sheet, an opening/closing unit configured to be openably and closably provided with respect to the housing, and pivotable between a closed position and an opened position, and a damping unit that is included in the opening/closing unit and configured to damp a movement of the opening/closing unit from the closed position to the opened position, wherein when the opening/closing unit is in the closed position, the opening/closing unit is not subjected to a resistance force of applying a load to the movement of the opening/closing unit by the damping unit, and wherein when the opening/closing unit is pivoted from the closed position to the opened position, the opening/closing unit is subjected to the resistance force of applying the load to the movement of the opening/closing unit by the damping unit.