Sheet Edge Guide Locking for Bidirectional Feed Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium placement devices in image forming apparatuses, such as sheet feeding devices, face challenges in securely aligning and feeding sheets of varying thickness and size due to tilting and movement restrictions that can lead to deviations during the feeding process.
Innovation Solution
The medium placement device incorporates edge guides with lockers and biasing sections that tilt in opposite directions, allowing for secure alignment and movement restriction through a simple operation mechanism, ensuring sheets are properly aligned and fed without deviation, utilizing a combination of guide shafts and lockers with interlocking sections, and a biasing mechanism to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single restricting member with an angular hole section is used to lock the sheet feed fence position, then the structure is simple, but the sheet feed fence can only be suppressed from moving in one direction and may move in the opposite direction
Solution Approach 1:
The single restricting member is divided into two separate restricting members (first restricting member and second restricting member), each with its own hole section. This segmentation allows each member to independently restrict movement in opposite directions, solving the problem of unilateral movement suppression while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second restricting members are positioned asymmetrically on opposite sides of the guide shaft, with their hole sections angled to press against the guide shaft in opposite directions. This asymmetric arrangement enables bidirectional movement restriction, preventing the sheet feed fence from moving in either direction while keeping the overall structure straightforward.
2Reliability
If the inner edge of the hole section is pressed against the guide shaft by tilting the restricting member, then movement in one direction is suppressed, but movement in the opposite direction is not restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into two separate restricting members, each responsible for restricting movement in one direction. The first restricting member suppresses movement in one direction while the second restricting member suppresses movement in the opposite direction, achieving comprehensive bidirectional control.
Solution Approach 2:
The two restricting members act as counterbalancing elements, with each member's pressing force counteracting potential movement in the opposite direction. This counterbalancing arrangement ensures that the sheet feed fence cannot move in either direction, as any movement in one direction is countered by the opposing restricting member.
3Reliability
If multiple restricting members are added to restrict movement in both directions, then movement restriction reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into two simple restricting members instead of one complex mechanism. Each restricting member has a straightforward structure with a hole section that presses against the guide shaft, making the overall addition minimal while achieving bidirectional control.
Solution Approach 2:
The two restricting members are integrated into the sheet feed fence assembly in a compact manner, sharing common structural elements and mounting mechanisms. This merging approach minimizes the increase in overall device complexity while providing the necessary bidirectional movement restriction.
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
The solution effectively aligns and feeds sheets of varying thickness and size by restricting movement, preventing deviations during feeding, enhancing the stability and efficiency of the sheet feeding process.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing section configured to bias the first locker and the second locker and the first locker and the second locker are biased by the first biasing section to tilt in different directions from each other
Data Source
AI summary
It includes a placement section on which medium can be placed, a first edge guide configured to align an edge of the medium placed on the placement section, and a first guide shaft configured to guide movement of the first edge guide. The first edge guide includes a first contact section that can contact a first edge of the medium, a first locker formed with a first hole through which the first guide shaft passes, a second locker formed with a second hole through which the first guide shaft passes, and a first biasing section that biases the first locker and the second locker. The first locker and the second locker are biased by the first biasing section to tilt in different directions.