Sheet Feeding Device Envelope Skew Prevention Guide Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet feeding devices face challenges in accurately conveying envelopes with flaps, leading to skewing and diagonal folding due to uneven load distribution and flap separation, which can result in image forming failures and sheet misfeed.
Innovation Solution
The sheet feeding device incorporates a sheet upper face guide plate and a device attachment body with cut portions to regulate the movement of envelopes, ensuring proper alignment and preventing skewing by supporting the envelope's lower face and guiding its upper movement, thus maintaining accurate positioning and smooth conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional sheet feeding device is used to feed envelopes with flaps, then the sheet conveying force is applied to the envelope, but the envelope experiences skewing and diagonal folding due to uneven load distribution and flap separation
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet feeding device is divided into multiple functional components: a sheet container for accommodating envelopes, a support structure for stabilizing the lower face, a sheet width regulator for lateral positioning, a conveying force applier for forward motion, and a sheet guide for upper face guidance. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of envelope handling, preventing skewing and diagonal folding while ensuring reliable conveyance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the sheet guide is disposed above the sheet in the sheet container, then movement of the sheet in the upper direction is regulated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet guide is integrated with the sheet container structure, combining the functions of sheet accommodation and upper face guidance into a unified component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining precise sheet position regulation in the upper direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet container serves multiple functions: it accommodates the envelope stack, provides structural support, and incorporates the sheet guide for upper face regulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby simplifying the device structure while achieving precise sheet position control.
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 prevents skewing and diagonal folding of envelopes, ensuring reliable and accurate sheet conveyance, even with special sheets like envelopes, thereby preventing image forming failures and enhancing the overall sheet feeding process.
Implementation Method 1
a conveying force applier configured to apply a sheet conveying force in a sheet conveying direction to the sheet in the sheet container
Implementation Method 2
sheet feeding devices are known to include a frictional separator such as a separation pad to separate a sheet to which a sheet conveying force applier applies a conveying force, from other sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and includes a device attachment body, includes a sheet container configured to accommodate a sheet, a support configured to support a lower face of the sheet in the sheet container, a sheet width regulator configured to regulate a position of the sheet in a sheet width direction, a conveying force applier configured to apply a sheet conveying force in a sheet conveying direction to the sheet in the sheet container, and a sheet guide disposed above the sheet in the sheet container and configured to regulate movement of the sheet in an upper direction.