Feeding Apparatus Guide Member Positioning for Sheet Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses incorrectly judge the presence of sheets in the tray when the cover is left open, leading to improper notification and feeding issues, as the sensor fails to detect sheets that are not guided through the feed path.
Innovation Solution
A feeding apparatus with a tray, a feeding device, a guide member that moves between exposed and covering positions, detection devices to monitor feeding progress, and a notification system to inform users of potential errors, such as an open cover or feeding issues, by storing and deleting specific information based on detection outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover is opened to remove a stuck sheet, then the feed path is exposed for sheet removal, but the sensor cannot detect sheets that are not guided through the feed path, leading to incorrect judgment
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the cover and the sheet. When the cover is open, the guide member can be positioned to guide the sheet through the feed path, ensuring the sensor can detect it. This mediator resolves the conflict between needing the cover open for access and needing the sheet guided for detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is made movable between different positions - a first position when the cover is closed to guide sheets normally, and a second position when the cover is open to alternatively guide sheets. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational states and maintain proper sheet detection regardless of cover position.
2Ease of operation
If the guide member is positioned to expose the feed path for sheet removal, then sheet access is improved, but sheet guidance is lost causing feeding errors
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member dynamically changes position based on operational needs - positioned to expose the feed path when sheet removal is needed, and positioned to guide sheets when feeding is required. This dynamic positioning allows the same component to serve both sheet access and sheet guidance functions reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect whether sheets are being properly fed through the feed path. When the guide member is in the exposed position and sheets are not properly guided, the sensor detects this condition and provides feedback to control the cover or guide member position, ensuring feeding reliability is maintained.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor is positioned downstream of the guide member, then sheet detection is possible, but sheets that exit before reaching the sensor are undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as an intermediary that ensures sheets are directed toward the sensor position. By positioning and guiding sheets through the feed path, the guide member ensures that sheets reach the detection zone where the sensor can detect them, preventing loss of sheet presence information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance solely on mechanical sheet guidance with an optical detection system. The sensor uses optical fields to detect sheet presence, providing more reliable detection than mechanical contact methods and ensuring sheets are detected even with minor position variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A feeding apparatus includes a feeding device that feeds paper from a tray to a feed path, a guide member that moves between a first position to cover the feed path and a second position to expose the feed path, a detection device disposed along the feed path downstream from the guide member, and detects the paper fed in the feed path, a judgment device that judges whether a feeding error has occurred in the feed path, a particular information control device that stores particular information in a memory when a feeding error has occurred, and a notification device that issues information indicating that the paper has not been fed from the tray to the feed path when the paper is not detected by the detection device and the memory does not store the particular information.