Sheet Feeder Regulating Member for Reliable Transportation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet feeders for image forming apparatuses require additional operations to prevent breakage and detachment of intermediate plates during transportation, leading to feeding failures and environmental concerns due to the use of buffers.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeder design that incorporates a regulating member with a detachment preventing portion, which secures the intermediate plate during transportation without the need for extra operations, allowing it to rotate freely during normal use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the intermediate plate is fixed by the rear end regulating member or side end regulating member during transportation, then the detachment and breakage of the intermediate plate can be prevented, but the user must perform additional operations to move the regulating member to a position allowing free rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating member is designed to automatically move between the engagement position (for preventing detachment during transportation) and the non-engagement position (for allowing free rotation during normal use) without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by eliminating the additional operation burden on users while maintaining reliable prevention of intermediate plate detachment during transportation
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating member transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic position that can automatically adjust between engagement and non-engagement states. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt to different operational conditions (transportation vs. normal use) automatically, resolving the contradiction between reliability during transportation and ease of operation during normal use
2Reliability
If buffers such as foamed polystyrene and cardboard are used to prevent detachment of the intermediate plate, then the breakage can be prevented, but the buffers must be discarded after unpacking, creating environmental problems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the protective function from disposable buffers and integrates it into the regulating member itself. The regulating member serves dual purposes: preventing intermediate plate detachment during transportation and enabling free rotation during normal use. This eliminates the need for separate buffers, resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental impact by removing the waste-generating component
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating member is designed to perform multiple functions: it prevents intermediate plate detachment during transportation, allows free rotation during normal use, and eliminates the need for disposable buffers. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating the protective function into an existing component that can be reused indefinitely without creating waste
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a sheet feeder, which can reliably feed a sheet without requiring the extra operation of a regulating member, and an image forming apparatus.The sheet feeder comprises an intermediate plate 4 provided in a cassette body 2 so as to rotate in up and down directions around a rotation fulcrum portion 4a. The cassette body 2 has a freely movable rear end regulating member 5. The rear end regulating member 5 has a holding portion 5a which prevents the rotation fulcrum portion 4a of the intermediate plate 4 from being detached from the cassette body 2. In the transportation, the rear end regulating member 5 is set to a position where the holding portion 5a prevents the rotation fulcrum portion 4a of the intermediate plate 4 from being detached from the cassette body 2 and the intermediate plate 4 can rotate.