Reversible Aligner Sheet Feeding Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses face challenges in aligning and stacking sheets efficiently, leading to increased machine size and co-feeding issues, which affect the stackability and reliability of the sheet ejection process.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeder system incorporating an ejection tray, a reversible alignment roller, a pressing member, a friction member, and a switching device, where the alignment roller applies pressure to convey sheets and the friction member prevents co-feeding by contacting the sheets on the ejection tray, allowing precise alignment and stacking without increasing the machine's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable ejection driving roller is brought into contact with a sheet on an ejection tray to convey the sheet to an ejection end fence, then sheet stackability is improved, but the machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a movable ejection driving roller that moves forward to convey sheets, the patent uses a reversible alignment roller that can rotate in both forward and reverse directions. The roller conveys sheets forward to the ejection end fence, then reverses to return to its initial position, eliminating the need for a large movable structure and maintaining compact machine size while improving sheet stackability.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment roller serves multiple functions: it acts as both the ejection driving roller (conveying sheets forward) and the return mechanism (reversing to initial position). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate movable ejection and return structures, reducing machine size while maintaining sheet stackability.
2Reliability
If a movable sheet pressing member is brought into contact with stacked sheets to improve stackability, then sheet alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sheet pressing function with the alignment roller by integrating a pressing member that works in conjunction with the reversible alignment roller. The pressing member applies pressure to the stacked sheets while the alignment roller conveys and positions them, merging multiple functions into a coordinated system that improves stackability without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the ejection tray is made compact to reduce machine size, then machine footprint is reduced, but sheet alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a reversible alignment roller that can dynamically rotate in both forward and reverse directions within a compact space. This dynamic capability allows the roller to convey sheets to the ejection end fence and then return to its initial position, maintaining precise sheet alignment while keeping the ejection tray compact and reducing overall machine size.
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 configuration enhances sheet ejection stackability by preventing co-feeding and maintaining a compact machine size, ensuring reliable and efficient sheet alignment and stacking performance.
Implementation Method 1
The friction member contacts the sheet ejected on the ejection tray to prevent conveyance of the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeder includes an ejection tray, an ejector, an aligner, a pressing member, a friction member, and a switching device. The ejection tray stacks sheets. The ejector ejects a sheet to the ejection tray. The aligner is disposed downstream of the ejector in a direction of ejection of the sheet. The aligner is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction. The pressing member applies pressure between the sheet and the aligner to enable the aligner to convey the sheet by rotation in the normal direction and the reverse direction. The friction member contacts the sheet ejected on the ejection tray to prevent conveyance of the sheet. The switching device switches contact and separation of the friction member with respect to the sheet.