Sheet Feeding Apparatus with Groove-Based Stacking Plate Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses face inconvenience during unpacking due to potential dropping of the sheet stacking plate and the need for additional work to remove packing materials, leading to increased rubbish.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding apparatus design featuring a sheet storage portion with a circumferential wall and support protruding portions that pivotably support the sheet stacking plate, eliminating the need for packing materials by ensuring secure fitting and preventing plate drop-off during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sheet stacking plate is not secured to the sheet storage portion, then unpacking is simple and convenient, but the sheet stacking plate may drop off during transport causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet stacking plate is divided into a base portion and a lifting portion that can move relative to each other. The base portion remains on the sheet storage portion while the lifting portion can be raised independently, allowing the plate to be secured during transport yet easily separated during unpacking without additional fastening materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting portion is designed to be movable relative to the base portion, transitioning between a lowered state during unpacking and a raised state during transport. This dynamic configuration allows the same structure to provide both ease of unpacking and reliable retention during transport, eliminating the need for separate securing mechanisms.
2Reliability
If packing materials such as tape are used to fasten the sheet stacking plate, then the plate is secured during transport, but additional work is required to remove the packing material and extra rubbish is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the securing function from external packing materials and integrates it into the sheet stacking plate's own structure. The lifting portion, when raised, automatically engages with the sheet storage portion to provide retention during transport, eliminating the need for separate packing materials and their subsequent removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet stacking plate serves its own securing function through the cooperative interaction between its base portion and lifting portion. The structure is self-sufficient, using its own components to provide both retention during transport and ease of separation during unpacking, without requiring external fastening or unpacking materials.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sheet stacking plate is designed with a simple structure, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but the plate may not be securely retained during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet stacking plate is segmented into a base portion and a lifting portion, each with simple geometries that are easy to manufacture. The segmentation allows the complex function of secure retention to be achieved through the relative movement and geometric interaction of two simple components, rather than requiring a single complex piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic configuration of the lifting portion relative to the base portion enables secure retention during transport without requiring complex fastening mechanisms. The simple structural elements achieve reliability through their movable relationship and geometric engagement, maintaining ease of manufacture while providing dependable retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet storage portion that stores sheets. The sheet storage portion has a bottom wall portion and a circumferential wall portion. The circumferential wall portion has a pair of support protruding portions and a groove portion. The pair of support protruding portions protrude from opposite inner circumferential faces facing each other along the axial direction of a pivot axis to be inserted in through holes, and pivotably support the sheet stacking plate. The groove portion is concave outward along the axial direction from the opposite inner circumferential faces facing each other along the axial direction of the pivot axis, and extends along the pivoting direction of the projection portion. With the sheet stacking plate raised, the projection portion is disposed in the groove.