Sheet Feeder Pressing Unit for Width Regulation and Bending Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveying systems in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately regulating the width of sheets during transfer, leading to potential bending or warping due to varying sheet widths and cutting errors, which can result in transfer failures and positional shifts.
Innovation Solution
A sheet containing device with a pressing unit mounted on a side fence that presses sheets against a regulating side fence, combined with a pressure releasing mechanism to adjust for sheet thickness and prevent bending, ensures accurate sheet alignment and transfer without positional shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a bundle of sheets is transferred from the second sheet container to the first sheet container, then sheet supply continuity is improved, but sheet position accuracy deteriorates due to bending and warping
Solution Approach 1:
The side fences are moved to a retreated position before sheet transfer, creating space for the bundle to be loaded without contact. After transfer, the fences are moved to the regulating position to press the sheets against the regulating fence, ensuring proper alignment before feeding occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The side fences are made movable between two positions: a retreated position that allows easy loading of sheet bundles, and a regulating position that presses sheets against the regulating fence for accurate width regulation and alignment during the feeding process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pair of side fences is moved automatically to regulate sheet position, then sheet alignment is improved, but device complexity increases due to motor and sensor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The side fences are equipped with pressing units that automatically press sheets against the regulating fence when in the regulating position, utilizing the mechanical configuration itself to achieve alignment without requiring additional sensors or control systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If the side fences are positioned closely to regulate sheet width, then sheet position control is improved, but sheet bending increases due to pressure on varying sheet widths
Solution Approach 1:
The side fences are retreated before sheet transfer to avoid contact with the bundle during loading. After transfer, they are positioned to regulate sheet width while the pressing unit applies controlled pressure only to the sheets themselves, not the entire bundle, minimizing bending.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing unit is designed to apply pressure locally at the sheet surface level rather than uniformly across the entire bundle, allowing width regulation while accommodating variations in sheet width and reducing bending and warping effects.
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 regulates sheet position in the width direction, preventing bending and transfer failures, and maintaining consistent sheet alignment for reliable image formation.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing unit mounted on the first side fence and pressing the bundle of sheets loaded on the first sheet container against the second side fence
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet containing device, which is included in a sheet feeder and an image forming apparatus, includes a first sheet container, a second sheet container disposed adjacent to the first sheet container, a transfer unit to transfer a bundle of sheets contained in the second sheet container to the first sheet container, a pair of side fences including a first side fence and a second side fence to regulate a position of the bundle of sheets in a width direction of the bundle of sheets loaded on the first sheet container, and a pressing unit mounted on the first side fence and pressing the bundle of sheets loaded on the first sheet container against the second side fence.