Sheet Feeding Apparatus Tray Wall Guide Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses face challenges in preventing skewing of sheets during the feeding process, particularly when transitioning between trays, which can lead to improper feeding and increased skewing of sheets.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a first wall portion at one end of the second tray, fixed relative to the first tray, which extends from the second end towards the first end, functioning as a guide member to prevent skewing by ensuring proper alignment and support of sheets during the feeding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guide member is provided to contact an end of a sheet in the upper tray or lower tray, then skewing of the sheet is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide member function with the existing tray structure by forming the guide member as an integral part of the upper tray. This integration eliminates the need for separate guide members while maintaining the sheet alignment function, thus preventing skewing without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper tray is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a support structure for sheets and as a guide member to prevent skewing. By making the tray itself guide the sheets, the patent achieves multi-functionality, reducing the number of components needed while maintaining feeding accuracy.
2Area of stationary object
If the second tray is disposed above the first tray, then space utilization is improved, but the risk of sheet skewing during feeding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member on the upper tray performs preliminary guidance of the sheet before it is fully fed onto the lower tray. This preliminary action ensures that the sheet is properly aligned and skewed-free before the feeding process completes, preventing skewing issues that would otherwise occur with vertical stacking.
3Reliability
If the first wall portion extends from the second end towards the first end, then sheet guidance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is segmented into functional zones: the first wall portion that extends from the second end towards the first end, and the second wall portion that extends from the first end towards the second end. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific guidance function while maintaining overall manufacturability through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first tray, a second tray disposed above the first tray, a feeding portion configured to feed a sheet in a feed direction, and a first wall portion disposed at one end of the second tray in a width direction and fixed relative to the first tray. The first tray has a first end on a side far from the feeding portion. The second tray has, on the side far from the feeding portion, a second end, which is closer to the feeding portion than the first end of the first tray. The first end of the first tray is located above the second end of the second tray. An upper end of the first wall portion is higher than the second tray, and extends from a side closer to the second end of the second tray toward the first end of the first tray.