Sheet Feeder with Dynamic Lift Plate Position Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding devices in image forming apparatuses often erroneously detect the presence of sheets, leading to inefficiencies and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding device with a lifting plate that swings between a feeding position and a retracted position, equipped with a sheet detection mechanism and control system to accurately determine sheet presence and adjust its position based on detection changes, preventing erroneous detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the lifting plate is arranged in the feeding position to enable sheet feeding, then sheet feeding capability is improved, but erroneous detection of sheet presence may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting plate is designed to dynamically change position between feeding position and retracted position based on sheet presence detection. When a sheet is detected, the lifting plate moves to the feeding position to enable sheet feeding. When no sheet is present, it retracts to prevent erroneous detection, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining feeding capability and ensuring detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting plate acts as an intermediary element between the sheet storage and the detection system. By positioning the lifting plate appropriately, it mediates between the need to maintain sheet feeding readiness and the need to ensure accurate sheet presence detection, preventing the detection system from erroneously detecting sheets when none are present.
2Measurement precision
If the lifting plate is retracted to prevent erroneous detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but sheet feeding operation is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sheet presence detection before initiating sheet feeding operations. The lifting plate is positioned in advance based on detection results, so when a sheet is present, the lifting plate is already in the feeding position, ready to immediately feed the sheet without delay. This eliminates time loss while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the sheet presence detection to control the lifting plate position. The detection system continuously monitors sheet presence and provides feedback to the control system, which adjusts the lifting plate position accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the lifting plate is in the correct position ready for feeding as soon as a sheet is detected, minimizing operation time while maintaining accurate detection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sheet feeding device (20) includes a sheet storage portion (22), a lifting plate (23), a swing driving portion (24), a feeding portion (25), a sheet detection portion (26), and a control portion (11). The control portion (11) arranges the lifting plate (23) in a feeding position when a feeding job for the sheet starts, and arranges the lifting plate (23) in a retracted position when the feeding job ends. At the end of the feeding job, while the lifting plate (23) is moving from the feeding position to the retracted position, if the detection state of the sheet detection portion (26) changes from a sheet-present state to a no-sheet state, the control portion rearranges the lifting plate (23) in the feeding position.