Sheet Feed Roller Support Rib Guide Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet feed devices require additional components like flexible film members to prevent sheet bending, increasing cost and complexity, and necessitate complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of rib portions on a support member within the sheet feed apparatus, which are inclined to guide the sheet smoothly into the nip portion between the sheet feed roller and separation pad, reducing the need for additional components and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible film member is disposed to guide the sheet into the nip portion, then sheet bending is prevented, but the number of components increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flexible film member from the sheet feed device structure. Instead of adding a guiding component, the invention uses the inherent structure of the support member with inclined surfaces to naturally guide the sheet, thereby preventing sheet bending without increasing component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is designed to serve multiple functions: it supports the separation pad, provides a contact surface for the sheet leading end, and includes inclined surfaces that guide the sheet into the nip portion. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate guiding components.
2Reliability
If a flexible film member is disposed to guide the sheet into the nip portion, then sheet bending is prevented, but assembly operation becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sheet guiding function with the support member structure. The inclined surfaces are integrated into the support member itself, eliminating the need for separate assembly of guiding components. This simplifies both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining sheet conveyance stability.
3Ease of operation
If the contact surface is lower than the pad surface, then the sheet can enter the nip portion, but the leading end of the sheet may bend
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inclined surfaces (curved or angled transitions) on the support member to gradually guide the sheet leading end from the contact surface level to the pad surface level. This curved/angled transition prevents abrupt changes that cause bending while ensuring proper sheet entry into the nip portion.
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 stabilizes sheet conveyance, reduces component count and assembly complexity, and prevents sheet bending, while maintaining effective single-sheet feeding by utilizing the frictional forces between the sheet and separation pad.
Implementation Method 1
A member having a high coefficient of friction is used for the separation pad so as to prevent (simultaneous) feeding of sheets other than an uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets.
Data Source
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AI summary
Sheet conveying path extends from sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed roller is disposed, in sheet conveying path, facing sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed pad is disposed facing circumferential surface of sheet feed roller, and has pad surface that forms, between pad surface and circumferential surface, nip portion into which sheet is conveyed. Support member has support surface to which sheet feed pad is fixed and contact surface located upstream of support surface in sheet conveying direction so as to be higher than pad surface, and configured to make contact with leading end of sheet fed from sheet stacking portion. Rib portions are disposed in support member. Rib portions are disposed on both side portions, in sheet width direction intersecting sheet conveying direction, of support surface, and have inclined surfaces that extend so as to lower front end portions thereof, respectively, from contact surface toward downstream side in sheet conveying direction.