Sheet Cassette Trailing Edge Regulation for Multi-Size Storage

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet storage apparatuses for image forming devices, such as copiers and printers, require numerous components and are costly due to movable side and trailing edge regulation members, which are underutilized as they are often used for specific paper sizes, limiting flexibility and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

A sheet storage apparatus with selectively detachable side edge regulation members and fixed trailing edge regulation surfaces, allowing for efficient storage and regulation of both A4 and letter-sized sheets within the same cassette, reducing the number of components and costs by eliminating the need for movable parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If movable side and trailing edge regulation members are disposed to accommodate different sheet sizes, then the feed cassette can store sheets of different sizes, but the number of components and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to store different sheet sizesVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side edge regulation member is divided into a pair of detachable plates that can be selectively attached at different positions, rather than using a single movable mechanism. This segmentation allows the regulation function to be distributed across multiple simple components rather than one complex movable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the regulation members movable to accommodate different sheet sizes, the invention fixes the regulation members at specific positions and provides multiple sets for different sizes. This inverts the approach from dynamic adjustment to static multiple configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If movable side and trailing edge regulation members are disposed to accommodate different sheet sizes, then the feed cassette can store sheets of different sizes, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to store different sheet sizesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The side edge regulation member is divided into a pair of detachable plates that can be selectively attached at different positions, rather than using a single movable mechanism. This segmentation allows the regulation function to be distributed across multiple simple components rather than one complex movable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the regulation members movable to accommodate different sheet sizes, the invention fixes the regulation members at specific positions and provides multiple sets for different sizes. This inverts the approach from dynamic adjustment to static multiple configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Manufacturing precision

If movable side and trailing edge regulation members are disposed, then sheet positioning accuracy can be adjusted for different sizes, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet positioning accuracyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side edge regulation member is divided into a pair of detachable plates that can be selectively attached at different positions, rather than using a single movable mechanism. This segmentation allows the regulation function to be distributed across multiple simple components rather than one complex movable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the regulation members movable to accommodate different sheet sizes, the invention fixes the regulation members at specific positions and provides multiple sets for different sizes. This inverts the approach from dynamic adjustment to static multiple configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11947299B2Sheet storage apparatus and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet cassette includes a first trailing edge regulator integrally formed with a cassette frame to regulate a position of a trailing edge of a first sized sheet in a feeding direction, and a second trailing edge regulator integrally formed with the cassette frame to regulate a position of a trailing edge of a sheet of a second size stored in the cassette frame in the feeding direction. A pair of side edge regulation members regulate positions of side edges of the sheet of the first size stored in the cassette frame in the width direction at a first position and regulate positions of side edges of the sheet of the second size stored in the cassette frame in the width direction at a second position.