Pinion Width Adjuster With Resilient Resistance For Sheet Guides
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic document feeders lack a reliable mechanism for accurately adjusting the gap between guide plates, leading to inconvenient and imprecise adjustments when handling single or thin sheets, as users struggle to maintain the correct distance without a resisting force.
Innovation Solution
A sheet storage device with a width adjusting mechanism incorporating a pinion, resilient member, and toothed portion that provides a resisting force to guide plates, enhancing the user's experience by offering a discontinuous and reliable operation feel during adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pinion and two racks mechanism is used for adjusting guide plates, then the guide plates can be moved synchronously and continuously, but the user tends to adjust the gap too small without resisting force, causing inconvenience when handling single or thin sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is pre-loaded to provide a resisting force that opposes the user's adjustment force. This preliminary anti-action prevents the guide plates from being adjusted too closely together, eliminating the need for users to carefully control the gap when handling single or thin sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member changes the mechanical parameter of the adjustment mechanism by introducing elastic force. This parameter change transforms the adjustment from a purely mechanical motion to a force-balanced operation, providing tactile feedback and preventing excessive gap reduction.
2Productivity
If no resisting force is provided in the width adjusting mechanism, then the guide plates can be adjusted smoothly and continuously, but the user must carefully adjust the distance back and forth in an inconvenient manner
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member provides tactile feedback to the user during adjustment. The elastic force creates a noticeable resistance that gives the user immediate feedback about the gap size, allowing for quicker and more accurate adjustment without requiring back-and-forth tweaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is pre-configured to provide appropriate resistance during the adjustment process. This preliminary action guides the user's hand naturally to the correct gap position, reducing the need for repeated adjustment attempts and improving overall efficiency.
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 improves the accuracy and efficiency of width adjustments by providing a clear resisting force, reducing user effort and minimizing errors when setting the distance between guide plates, especially when handling single or thin sheets.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member is disposed coaxially with and rotated with the pinion. The toothed portion is disposed around the resilient member and in contact with the resilient member. The toothed portion provides a resisting force upon rotation of the pinion.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet storage device includes a sheet tray, two guide plates and a width adjusting mechanism. The sheet tray supports a sheet. The two guide plates, disposed on the sheet tray, guides transportation of the sheet placed on the sheet tray. The width adjusting mechanism, disposed on the sheet tray and connected to the two guide plates, adjusts a distance between the two guide plates. The width adjusting mechanism includes a pinion, a resilient member, a toothed portion and two connectors. The pinion is rotatably disposed. The resilient member is disposed coaxially with and rotated with the pinion. The toothed portion is disposed around the resilient member and in contact with the resilient member. The toothed portion provides a resisting force upon rotation of the pinion. Each connector connects the pinion to one of the guide plates.