Sheet Pressing Indentation for Cassette Mounting Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet feeding apparatuses and image forming apparatuses face challenges in preventing changes in sheet attitude and deformation when accommodating sheets of different sizes, due to inertial forces during mounting/detaching of the sheet cassette, leading to positional shifts and insufficient sheet regulating forces, especially when the stacking amount of sheets is reduced.
Innovation Solution
The sheet feeding apparatus incorporates a sheet pressing portion with an indented configuration that extends upward from its lower end, preventing the upstream end of sheets from abutting and allowing for uniform force application, thereby maintaining sheet attitude and preventing deformation across various sheet sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a biasing force is applied to the sheet pressing portion to ensure sheet regulating force, then sheet position regulation is improved, but sheet deformation occurs when stacking amount is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet pressing portion is made movable in the sheet width direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on sheet size variations. This dynamic adjustment enables the pressing force to be applied at optimal locations for different sheet sizes, preventing deformation while maintaining regulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force is locally applied through the sheet pressing portion at specific locations on the sheet bundle. By making this local pressing point adjustable in position, the system optimizes the local quality of force application to match different sheet configurations and sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the position of the movable side end regulating portion is set to accommodate sheet dimension variations, then adaptability to different sheet sizes is improved, but the sheet pressing portion enters the center of sheets when sheets are not stacked
Solution Approach 1:
The movable side end regulating portion dynamically adjusts its position based on the actual sheet size and stacking conditions. When sheets are present, it positions itself to provide appropriate regulation; when sheets are absent, it moves to a retracted position that prevents interference with the sheet center.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet pressing portion automatically adjusts its position based on the presence and size of sheets through spring biasing and mechanical interaction. The system self-regulates without external control, positioning itself appropriately for different sheet configurations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a sheet pressing portion with increased biasing force is used to regulate sheets, then sheet position stability is improved, but sheet bundle rigidity is exceeded causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing force is dynamically adjusted based on sheet bundle conditions. The spring-based biasing mechanism provides variable force that adapts to the rigidity of the sheet bundle, maintaining stability without exceeding structural limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force parameter is changed based on sheet bundle characteristics. By using a spring mechanism, the force parameter automatically varies according to the compression and rigidity of the sheet bundle, preventing deformation while maintaining regulation.
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
This solution effectively prevents changes in sheet attitude and deformation, ensuring stable sheet feeding regardless of sheet size, by distributing force uniformly and maintaining sheet alignment without increasing component complexity or cost.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing unit such as a spring for pressing sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus that can prevent changes at the time of mounting a sheet cassette, and deformation and changes of the sheets after the sheet cassette is mounted regardless of a sheet size are provided. A movable side regulating plate provided in a frame, regulates positions of width direction side ends of sheets is provided with sheet pressing portions and that press the side ends of the sheets to press the sheets against a fixed side regulating plate in a biasing manner. An indented configuration against which, when short sheets are pressed by the sheet pressing portion are stacked on a sheet stacking plate, upstream ends of the sheets do not abut is formed upward from a bottom end of the sheet pressing portion to a predetermined dimension at a sheet feeding direction center of the sheet pressing portion.