Sheet Conveying Device Lock Lever and Side Guide Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet conveying devices face interference issues between the lock lever and side guide, leading to an increase in device dimension in the upper and lower direction, which complicates the alignment and conveyance of sheets.

Innovation Solution

A sheet conveying device with a movable side guide and a rotatable cover, where the side guide features a notched portion to accommodate the lock lever's rotation track, allowing for closer positioning and avoiding interference, thus maintaining a compact device dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lock lever and side guide are positioned to avoid interference, then interference between components is eliminated, but the device dimension in the upper and lower direction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavoidance of interference between lock lever and side guideVSAvoiddevice dimension in upper and lower direction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The side guide is segmented by introducing a notch portion that divides it into upper and lower sections. This segmentation allows the side guide to accommodate the lock lever's rotation track within its structure, enabling the components to be positioned closer together in the upper and lower direction without causing interference, thus reducing the overall device dimension while maintaining reliable operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The notch portion of the side guide is designed to accommodate or nest the lock lever's rotation track within the side guide's structure. This nesting arrangement allows the lock lever to rotate within the space created by the notch, eliminating the need for additional clearance space and reducing the device dimension in the upper and lower direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the side guide is made movable to facilitate sheet alignment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet alignment capabilityVSAvoidmovable side guide mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side guide is designed to be movable along the tray's width direction, allowing it to automatically adjust its position to accommodate sheets of different widths. This self-adjusting capability enables users to easily align sheets without requiring complex external adjustment mechanisms, improving ease of operation while keeping the device structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12187561B2Sheet conveying device

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A sheet conveying device includes a tray, a device body having a conveying route of a sheet and supporting the tray, a side guide supported by the tray to be movable in a first direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the sheet and contacting an end portion in the first direction of the sheet placed on the tray, a cover rotatable with respect to the device body and covering the conveying route, and a lock lever locking the cover to the device body and provided in a position overlapping the side guide in a second direction intersecting with the conveying direction and the first direction. The lock lever is rotatable between a lock position where the cover is locked and a release position where the cover is released. The side guide includes a first notched portion facing a rotation track of the lock lever with a gap.