Sheet Feeding Apparatus Jam Removal Guide Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses in image forming devices face difficulties in handling jams, as sheets can become stuck and torn when the cassette is drawn from the apparatus body, making it challenging to resolve jam states effectively.
Innovation Solution
The sheet feeding apparatus incorporates a jam-handling guide surface with an inclined abutment surface that guides stuck sheets toward the opening when the cassette is drawn, preventing tears and facilitating jam removal by ensuring the sheet is smoothly directed out of the apparatus body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cassette is drawn from the apparatus body when a sheet is stuck across the boundary portion, then the sheet may be removed from the apparatus body, but the sheet may be torn or caught in the apparatus body making jam handling difficult
Solution Approach 1:
An abutment surface is introduced as an intermediary element between the conveyance path and the drawer portion. This abutment surface actively guides the stuck sheet during the drawing operation, preventing the sheet from being caught or torn while ensuring it is properly directed out with the drawer portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment surface is positioned and configured in advance to prepare for potential jam situations. When a sheet becomes stuck, the abutment surface is already in place to guide the sheet during the drawing operation, preventing tears before they occur.
2Ease of operation
If the abutment surface is positioned to guide the sheet toward the drawer portion, then the sheet can be smoothly extracted, but the abutment surface must be precisely positioned to avoid interfering with normal sheet conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment surface is positioned at a specific location downstream of the sheet conveyance area, where it only interacts with sheets during abnormal conditions (when stuck). This localized positioning ensures it guides stuck sheets without interfering with normal conveyance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment surface is configured to overlap with the conveyance path when viewed in the drawing direction, but is positioned downstream of the active conveyance area. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows it to function during drawer extraction while remaining passive during normal operation.
3Ease of operation
If the abutment surface is inclined to guide the sheet downstream, then the sheet is directed toward the drawer portion, but the inclination must be optimized to prevent sheet damage
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment surface is configured with specific inclination angles in both the drawing direction and the sheet feeding direction. By optimizing these angular parameters, the surface guides the sheet smoothly during extraction while minimizing stress and preventing sheet damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a drawer unit having a sheet supporting portion, a feeding roller to feed the sheet, a conveyance roller pair, and first and second conveyance guides. An abutment surface, formed integrally with the first conveyance guide, abuts against the sheet and guides the sheet toward the drawer unit. The abutment surface is inclined upstream from a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction toward a downstream side from an upstream side in a drawing direction and overlaps with the second conveyance guide when viewed in the drawing direction.