Sheet Stacking Apparatus Pivotable Cassette Skew Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feed cassettes face challenges in accommodating a variety of sheet sizes due to size constraints, leading to increased skewing and reduced printing precision when handling larger sheets, as downsizing the width and conveyance direction regulating members reduces their contact area and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A sheet stacking apparatus with a pivotably supported stacking portion and width regulating members that move between two positions, allowing for effective regulation of sheet positioning without interfering with the stacking member, enabling the use of both larger and smaller sheets without increasing the cassette size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the width regulating member and conveyance direction regulating member are downsized to accommodate smaller sheets, then the cassette can handle a greater variety of sheet sizes, but the contact area between the end portion of the sheet and the regulating members is reduced, deteriorating positioning accuracy and increasing sheet skewing
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking portion is configured to pivot about a support portion, enabling dynamic adjustment of the stacking portion's position and angle. This allows the regulating members to maintain optimal contact with sheets of varying sizes without requiring the members themselves to be resized, thus preserving positioning accuracy while accommodating sheet size variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette is divided into functionally independent components: the body, the pivotably supported stacking portion, and the regulating members. This segmentation allows the stacking portion to be adjusted independently to accommodate different sheet sizes while the regulating members maintain their original dimensions and positioning accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is increased in size to accommodate larger sheets, then the cassette can handle larger sheet sizes, but the whole apparatus must be increased in size
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable stacking portion allows the cassette to dynamically adjust its configuration to accommodate larger sheets without requiring a larger housing. The stacking portion can pivot to create additional space for larger sheets while maintaining a compact overall cassette structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the cassette size in the horizontal plane, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by allowing the stacking portion to pivot upward. This enables accommodation of larger sheets without increasing the cassette's footprint area.
3Length of stationary object
If the width regulating member and conveyance direction regulating member are downsized, then the cassette can be reduced in size, but the amount of skewing caused in the sheets is increased, leading to deteriorated printing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable stacking portion compensates for the downsizing of the regulating members by providing dynamic adjustment capability. This allows the system to maintain adequate contact area between sheets and regulating members even when the overall cassette is compact, thereby preventing excessive skewing and preserving printing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the stacking portion through pivoting, allowing the regulating members to maintain optimal contact with sheets regardless of cassette size. This parameter adjustment ensures consistent positioning accuracy without requiring large regulating members.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet stacking apparatus includes a body, a stacking portion which a sheet is stacked, a width regulating portion configured to move between a first position and a second position closer to a center of the stacking portion in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction than the first position, and including a regulating surface configured to regulate a position, in the width direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a supporting portion pivotably supporting the stacking portion. The supporting portion is disposed on the body and closer to the center of the stacking portion in the width direction, than the regulating surface of the width regulating portion positioned at the first position.