Sheet Feeder Protrusion Control for Glossy Paper Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeders in image recording apparatuses often cause damage to glossy papers due to strong rubbing from protrusions, leading to creases, scratches, and surface damage, especially when feeding from a stack with a small radius of curvature.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeder design featuring an inclined separation plate with strategically positioned window holes and separation protrusions, supported by arm portions, which allow controlled protrusion and reduce deformation, along with rollers to minimize sheet bending and contact with the separation components, preventing damage to glossy papers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal protrusions are provided at the inclined separation face plates to separate sheets, then sheet separation is improved, but the protrusions strongly rub against glossy papers causing surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the separation protrusions from metal to rubber, which fundamentally alters the interaction characteristics between the protrusions and sheet surfaces. Rubber provides sufficient friction for separation while being gentler on glossy paper surfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between effective separation and surface damage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining rubber material with the metal holder structure. The rubber protrusions are mounted on a rigid metal holder, creating a composite system that maintains structural integrity while providing gentle contact with sheets through the rubber material
2Quantity of substance
If the cassette body is made deep to hold a large number of sheets, then sheet capacity is improved, but glossy papers fed from the stack are strongly rubbed due to small radius of curvature in the U-turn path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the separation protrusions to rubber, which reduces friction and rubbing on glossy papers during the feeding process. This material change helps prevent surface damage even when papers traverse tight curvature paths from deep cassette positions
3Reliability
If protrusions are shaped in claw form to enhance separation, then sheet separation is improved, but scratches appear on the sheet surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to rubber, which fundamentally alters the interaction characteristics. Rubber material provides sufficient friction for reliable separation while being inherently gentler on sheet surfaces, preventing scratches even with protrusion shapes that contact the paper
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 design effectively separates sheets without causing damage, ensuring smooth feeding and maintaining image quality by controlling the protrusion height and stiffness of separation components, thus preventing creases and scratches on glossy papers.
Implementation Method 1
the separation member has a number of separation protrusions arranged along the sheet feeing direction, the inclined separation plate has a number of window holes arranged along the sheet feeding direction, and the separation protrusions protrude from the window holes
Data Source
AI summary
Sheets are separated one-by-one from their stack placed in a holder by a sheet feed roller and a separation member provided in an inclined separation plate. The separation member can be a flat metal plate, and possibly includes a base portion, arm portions extending from the base portion, separation protrusions provided on the arm portions and capable of contacting a sheet, and elastic legs extending from the base portion. The arm portions, the separation protrusions, and the elastic legs can be arranged along a sheet feeding direction. The inclined separation plate may be provided with window holes on a central portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The window holes can allow each separation protrusion or two or more separation protrusions to protrude toward the front surface of the inclined separation plate. Bridge portions can be provided between adjacent window holes. The bridge portions may strengthen the bending stiffness of the inclined separation plate in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and thus the separation protrusions are allowed to protrude only by a specified amount as designed.