Sheet Feeding Device Movable Placement Plate Regulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet feeding devices with regulators struggle to support a wide range of paper sizes, particularly smaller sizes like A6 and postcard, due to limitations in the movement range and structural integrity of the movable placement plate, requiring separate members that need to be attached and detached.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second regulator that can be accommodated within the movable placement plate, allowing it to switch between a standing posture for use and an accommodation posture when not in use, which can regulate the position of smaller paper sizes without the need for additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the opening in the movable placement plate is enlarged to support smaller paper sizes, then the variety of supported paper sizes increases, but the stability of paper sheet support deteriorates and the strength of the movable placement plate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the regulator into multiple segments: a fixed regulator portion and a movable regulator portion. The movable regulator can be positioned at different locations to accommodate different paper sizes without enlarging the opening in the movable placement plate. This segmentation allows the system to support various paper sizes while maintaining the structural integrity and stability of the placement plate.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movement range of the regulator is broadened to support various paper sheet sizes, then the adaptability increases, but the structural complexity and required opening size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable regulator portion is designed to be nested within or alongside the fixed regulator portion. The movable regulator can slide or rotate within a confined space, allowing it to adjust to different paper sizes without requiring a large movement range or complex external structure. This nesting approach minimizes the overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate member for small sizes is attached to the movable placement plate, then small paper sizes can be supported, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to attachment and detachment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of supporting both large and small paper sizes into a single integrated regulator system. The fixed regulator portion handles larger paper sizes, while the movable regulator portion can be adjusted to handle smaller paper sizes. This combination eliminates the need for separate attachable members, allowing users to simply adjust the movable regulator position rather than physically attaching or detaching components.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cassette, which is detachable with respect to a sheet feeding cassette mounting portion provided on an image forming device body. The sheet feeding cassette includes a storage portion that stores a paper sheet, a first regulator provided on a bottom portion of the storage portion that regulates the position of a paper sheet, and a movable placement plate that upwardly pushes a paper sheet stored in the storage portion. The movable placement plate includes a second regulator that regulates the position of a paper sheet having a different size to the size of a paper sheet that can be regulated by the first regulator.