Sheet Feeding Device Roller Replacement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding devices in image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and printers, face challenges in maintaining the operability and replaceability of sheet feed rollers and separation rollers, which are prone to wear and require complex detachment and attachment processes, leading to insufficient maintenance operability.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding device design incorporating a sheet loader, rollers, a drive device, a shaft, a movable body, and a biasing body, with a cover that can be manually detached, enhances the operability of roller replacement by allowing easy detachment and attachment of the sheet feed roller and separation roller without the need for tools, using a biasing force to facilitate rotation and attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the sheet feed roller and sheet separation roller are provided as replaceable parts, then the maintainability of the sheet feeding device is enhanced, but the complexity of detachment and attachment processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet feeding device is divided into separable modules: the sheet feed roller assembly, the sheet separation roller assembly, and the main body. Each roller can be independently detached and attached through dedicated engagement portions, allowing maintenance without disassembling the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet feed roller and sheet separation roller are extracted as separate replaceable components from the main body. The sheet feed roller can be removed via the drive shaft engagement portion, and the sheet separation roller via the holding portion engagement, enabling independent replacement of worn parts.
2Ease of operation
If the sheet feed roller is detached or attached along with movement of opening and closing of a cover, then the attachment process is simplified, but the operability during maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement portions are pre-configured in the sheet feed roller and main body to enable automatic engagement when the roller is inserted. The drive shaft engagement portion and holding portion engagement are designed to self-align and secure the roller in place without requiring additional operations.
3Strength
If the sheet separation roller is attached using screws, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of replacement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion engagement mechanism enables the sheet separation roller to be attached and detached through manual insertion and removal actions. The engagement portion guides the roller into place and secures it through elastic engagement, eliminating the need for external tools like screws while maintaining secure attachment.
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
This design improves the maintenance operability by simplifying the replacement process of the rollers, reducing the complexity of detachment and attachment, and ensuring efficient sheet feeding performance with enhanced user accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing body is configured to apply a biasing force and bias the movable body from a drive receiving side to a drive transmitting side
Implementation Method 2
The roller is configured to feed the sheet loaded on the sheet loader in a sheet conveying direction
Implementation Method 3
The shaft is rotated by the drive device and is configured to engage with the first engaging portion of the roller and transmit a driving force to the roller
Implementation Method 4
The movable body is configured to rotate in a direction of rotational axis. The holding portion is configured to engage with the second engaging portion of the roller and rotatably hold the roller
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a roller detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and configured to feed a sheet in a sheet conveying direction, a shaft configured to engage with the roller and transmit a driving force to the roller, a movable body configured to rotate in a direction of rotational axis and includes a holding portion configured to engage with the second engaging portion of the roller and rotatably hold the roller and a guide configured to guide attachment of the second engaging portion of the roller to the holding portion, and a biasing body configured to apply a biasing force and bias the movable body from a drive receiving side to a drive transmitting side.