Sheet Feeding Trailing-End Regulating Member for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses struggle to stabilize the feeding of sheets with uneven thickness, leading to potential feeding failures due to unstable contact between the feeding roller and the uppermost sheet, especially when the inclination of the trailing end of the sheet is not adequately relieved.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding apparatus with a trailing-end regulating member that includes a support portion with a projecting shape, where the center portion projects upward more than the end portions, to stabilize the trailing end of sheets and ensure consistent feeding, even for sheets with varying thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a swing plate is used to relieve inclination of the uppermost sheet, then the feeding stability is improved, but the trailing end inclination relief is insufficient for sheets with large inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is divided into two separate components: the swing plate handles the leading end inclination relief, while the trailing-end regulating member with its support portion handles the trailing end inclination relief. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in relieving inclination at its respective location, solving the insufficient relief problem at the trailing end.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion of the trailing-end regulating member acts as an intermediary element between the trailing end of the sheet and the tray. By providing this intermediate support structure with a projecting shape, the patent creates a new contact point that directly relieves the trailing end inclination without requiring the sheet to rest on the tray surface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the trailing end of the sheet is positioned away from the swing plate, then sheets of various shapes can be fed, but the contact state between feeding roller and sheet becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is divided into two separate components: the swing plate handles the leading end inclination relief, while the trailing-end regulating member with its support portion handles the trailing end inclination relief. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in relieving inclination at its respective location, solving the insufficient relief problem at the trailing end.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion is designed with a specific local geometry (projecting shape) that provides targeted support at the trailing end location. This local quality enhancement ensures that the trailing end of the sheet receives adequate support and inclination relief, improving contact stability with the feeding roller while maintaining versatility for various sheet shapes.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking portion, a feed member provided above the stacking portion and configured to feed an uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, and a trailing-end regulating member movable in the sheet feeding direction and configured to regulate a position of a trailing end of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion in the sheet feeding direction. The trailing-end regulating member includes a support portion configured to support a lower surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion. The support portion has a projecting shape in which a center portion of the support portion in a sheet width direction projects upward as compared with end portions of the support portion in the sheet width direction.