Sheet Holding Portion Fall Prevention Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet accommodating devices for image forming apparatuses face issues with the sheet holding portion falling out when opened, and when trying to remove a jammed sheet, the mechanism is cumbersome, leading to potential damage and noise due to excessive load on fall prevention mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A sheet accommodating device with a housing, a rotatable sheet accommodating portion, a movable member, a first urging member, a regulating member, and a second urging member that engages with a stopper to prevent the sheet holding portion from falling out and facilitate easy installation/removal without manual lifting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If roller bearings are provided in the guiding rail portion to allow smooth sliding, then the resistance during opening/closing is minimized, but the fall prevention mechanism is subjected to excessive load when opened at substantial speed, resulting in banding sounds and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth sliding of sheet holding portionVSAvoidload capacity of fall prevention mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cushioning member is provided between the sheet holding portion and the main assembly to absorb impact and reduce resistance during opening/closing operations. This beforehand cushioning prevents excessive load on the fall prevention mechanism while maintaining smooth operation, eliminating banding sounds and preventing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning member acts as an intermediary element between the sheet holding portion and the main assembly. It mediates the interaction by absorbing impact forces and reducing resistance, thereby protecting the fall prevention mechanism from excessive load while allowing smooth sliding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the sheet holding portion is opened with substantial speed to improve productivity, then processing time is reduced, but the fall prevention mechanism becomes damaged or generates noise due to excessive load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of sheet holding portion openingVSAvoidbanding sounds and mechanical damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning member is positioned to activate during high-speed opening operations, absorbing impact forces and reducing resistance. This allows the sheet holding portion to be opened at substantial speed for improved productivity while preventing banding sounds and mechanical damage to the fall prevention mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Quantity of substance

If a large number of sheets are stored in the sheet holding portion to increase capacity, then the quantity of recording medium is increased, but the fall prevention mechanism is subjected to excessive load during opening/closing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sheets storedVSAvoidload on fall prevention mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning member absorbs impact forces generated when opening/closing the sheet holding portion with large quantities of sheets stored. This beforehand cushioning allows the sheet holding portion to accommodate substantial numbers of sheets without subjecting the fall prevention mechanism to excessive load, preventing damage and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 the sheet holding portion from falling out and allows for easy installation/removal, reducing the risk of damage and noise, while enabling the device to handle a large number of sheets without mechanical failure.

Implementation Method 1

a first urging member urging said movable member in a moving direction of said supporting member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second urging member urging said regulating member so as to protrude it from said movable member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10486921B2Sheet accommodating device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.11.26 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet accommodating device includes a housing; a sheet accommodating portion configured to accommodate a sheet and detachably mountable in the housing, the accommodating portion including, a supporting member supporting the accommodating portion so as to be rotatable relative to the housing, a movable member movable relative to the supporting member along the supporting member, a first urging member urging the movable member in a moving direction of the supporting member, a regulating member movable in a direction crossing with the moving direction of the movable member, and a second urging member urging the regulating member so as to protrude it from the movable member. The housing is provided with an engageable member engaged with the regulating member.