Sheet Discharging Felt Detection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet discharging devices face issues with operability and damage due to the full detection feeler catching sheets during pickup, leading to potential paper jams and increased operational complexity, especially when the feeler is not returned to its standby position.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sheet discharging device with a full detection feeler that includes a contact member and a feeler body, which swing together within a predetermined range, allowing for reliable sheet detection and prevention of damage by stabilizing the feeler's return to its standby position without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the full detection feeler is used to detect sheet height, then sheet full state detection is achieved, but the feeler catches sheets during pickup causing damage and reduced operability
Solution Approach 1:
The feeler is divided into two functional parts: a feeler body that swings vertically for sheet full detection, and a contact member that rotates horizontally for sheet contact. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, preventing the feeler body from catching sheets during pickup operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact member is designed to rotate horizontally when contacted by a sheet, while the feeler body swings vertically. This dynamic differentiation ensures that sheet contact occurs through horizontal rotation rather than vertical swinging, eliminating the problem of sheets being caught during pickup.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the full detection feeler is manually retreated to connect post processing device, then device connectivity is achieved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member automatically rotates horizontally when a sheet contacts it during pickup, eliminating the need for manual intervention to retreat the feeler. The system performs the retreat action automatically through the sheet's own contact force, reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If the full detection feeler is not returned to standby position, then sheet full state detection fails, but paper jam and stacking failure prevention becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The photointerrupter provides automatic feedback detection when the feeler body swings vertically and blocks the light beam. This feedback mechanism ensures that the sheet full state is reliably detected without requiring manual return of the feeler, as the system automatically recognizes the blocked light condition and responds accordingly.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A sheet conveying device (700), which is included in an image forming apparatus (100), includes a contact body (903) to rotate while contacting a sheet (P), a shaft (902) to rotate together with the contact body (903) in a range of rotation of the contact body (903), a sheet detector (91, 92) to detect the sheet (P) through detection of rotation of the shaft (902), and a rotary body support (93a, 93b, 904) to rotatably support the contact body (903) over the range of rotation, in a same direction as the rotation direction of the shaft (902). A sheet discharging device (9) includes a sheet discharging body (95, 96), a sheet stacker (15), and the sheet conveying device (700). The sheet detector (91, 92) detects that a sheet height in the sheet stacker (15) is equal to or higher than a predetermined height.