Sheet Feeding Cartridge Positioning Mechanism for Level Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet feeding cartridges experience positional displacement and level differences during attachment due to deformation and engagement issues, leading to conveying failures and sheet wrinkles.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding cartridge design featuring a first positioning part for aligning the cartridge base with the cartridge storing part and a second positioning part for aligning the cartridge cover with the side face covers, ensuring precise positioning and eliminating level differences through sliding mechanisms and snap-fit coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cartridge cover is molded to have predetermined dimensions with hard resin material, then the cartridge cover can be manufactured with standard materials, but dimensional precision deteriorates due to warping and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard resin to elastic resin, which fundamentally alters the material's physical properties. The elastic resin material can elastically deform to compensate for dimensional variations and warping, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while still allowing easy manufacturing with standard materials.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cartridge cover is made with elastic resin material, then dimensional precision is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex requiring additional positioning parts
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic resin cartridge cover performs self-positioning through its material properties. The elastic deformation capability allows the cartridge cover to automatically adjust and maintain proper positioning without requiring complex external positioning mechanisms, thereby achieving precise positioning while avoiding increased structural complexity.
3Shape
If the guiding rib engages with the cartridge cover end, then level difference is eliminated, but the cartridge cover is forcibly deformed causing displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard resin to elastic resin, which fundamentally alters how the cartridge cover responds to engagement forces. The elastic material can deform reversibly during engagement, allowing the guiding rib to achieve proper level alignment while the elastic deformation prevents permanent displacement and maintains attachment position accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding cartridge attached to or detached from a cartridge storing part formed between a pair of side face covers which constitute a part of an exterior cover of an apparatus main body. The sheet feeding cartridge includes a cartridge base on which a sheet is stacked, a cartridge cover attached so as to be slidable in a width direction perpendicular to the attachment direction, a first positioning part configured to position the cartridge base to the cartridge storing part and a second positioning part configured to position the cartridge cover with respect to the side face covers in the width direction perpendicular to the attachment direction.