Rotatable Side Guide Sheet Cassette Friction Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet cassettes in image processing apparatuses face challenges in reducing the conveying load of sheets, particularly when handling sheets of varying sizes and thicknesses, which can lead to misalignment and increased friction during the conveying process.
Innovation Solution
The sheet cassette design incorporates a sheet mounting unit with adjustable first and second side guides and a biasing unit, where the first side guide can rotate around a shaft to approach and separate from the second side guide, reducing friction and misalignment by applying a controlled biasing force, and allowing for adjustment based on sheet size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are conveyed out from the sheet cassette, then the sheet supply function is achieved, but the conveying load increases depending on sheet type
Solution Approach 1:
The first side guide is designed to rotate around a rotation shaft, transitioning from a fixed position to a movable one. This dynamic adjustment allows the side guide to adapt to different sheet types and thicknesses, optimizing the conveying load by reducing friction through rotational movement while maintaining effective sheet supply.
2Productivity
If the conveying load is reduced by minimizing contact, then the sheet handling efficiency improves, but sheet alignment may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable first side guide provides dynamic contact adjustment, allowing minimal frictional contact for efficient handling while maintaining sufficient guidance for proper sheet alignment through controlled rotational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The side guide's rotational parameter changes allow adjustment of contact pressure and angle, optimizing the balance between minimizing friction for efficiency and maintaining sufficient contact for alignment precision.
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 effectively reduces the conveying load and ensures smooth handling of sheets, including thick paper, by minimizing contact area and optimizing the biasing force, thus enhancing the efficiency of sheet conveyance.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing unit has a biasing member. The biasing member biases at least the first side guide in a direction approaching the second side guide.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet cassette includes a sheet mounting unit, a first side guide, a second side guide, and a biasing unit. The first side guide comes into contact with the sheet at one end in a sheet width direction. The sheet width direction is a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction in which the sheet is conveyed out from the sheet mounting unit. The sheet width direction is parallel to the mounting surface. The second side guide comes into contact with the sheet at the other end in the sheet width direction. The biasing unit has a biasing member. The biasing member biases at least the first side guide in a direction approaching the second side guide. The first side guide can rotate around a rotation shaft intersecting the mounting surface in a direction in which the first side guide approaches and separates from the second side guide.