Sheet Storage Cassette with Movable Regulation for Small Sheets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sheet feed cassettes struggle to efficiently store and regulate small-sized sheets like postcards and envelopes due to fixed side and rear end regulation members, requiring multiple cassettes for different sizes, increasing costs and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A sheet storage apparatus with a movable sheet stacking portion, adjustable side and rear end regulation members, and a detachable rear end regulation attachment that extends to regulate the upstream end of sheets, allowing for flexible positioning and size adaptation without compromising the cassette's rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed side end regulation members and rear end regulation member are used, then sheets can be positioned at predetermined positions for stable feeding, but small-sized sheets smaller than the minimum regulated size cannot be appropriately regulated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet feeding stabilityVSAvoidcapability to regulate small-sized sheets

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the regulation members movable instead of fixed. The side end regulation members can move in the width direction, and the rear end regulation member can move in the sheet feed direction, allowing them to adapt to different sheet sizes dynamically while maintaining stable positioning during feeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The regulation members are designed to handle multiple sheet sizes through their movable capability. A single set of regulation members can regulate both large and small sheets by adjusting their positions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cassettes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of cassettes with different regulation member positions are prepared to feed various small-sized sheets, then different sheet sizes can be regulated, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to feed various sheet sizesVSAvoidnumber of cassette types

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single cassette design with movable regulation members can handle multiple sheet sizes, replacing the need for multiple specialized cassette types. The regulation members can be repositioned to accommodate different sheet dimensions within the same cassette

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The regulation members are designed to be movable rather than fixed at specific positions. This dynamic capability allows one cassette to perform the function of multiple cassettes with fixed regulation members at different positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of cassettes are prepared for different sheet sizes, then various small-sized sheets can be fed, but user convenience deteriorates due to time and labor required to select and replace cassettes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to feed various sheet sizesVSAvoidconvenience of sheet size change

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable regulation members allow users to adjust the cassette configuration for different sheet sizes without physical replacement. Users can simply reposition the regulation members, which is much more convenient than selecting and replacing entire cassette assemblies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Quantity of substance

If the sheet stacking portion is made movable upward and downward, then small-sized sheets can be stacked in large quantities, but maintaining cassette rigidity becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of sheets that can be stackedVSAvoidcassette rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cassette is divided into a movable sheet stacking portion and a fixed bottom portion. This segmentation allows the stacking portion to move vertically for loading and stacking sheets while the bottom portion maintains structural rigidity and provides stable support

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9714146B2Sheet storage apparatus and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.07.25 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet storage apparatus includes a storage apparatus body, a sheet stacking portion, a rear end regulation member, and a rear end regulation attachment. The sheet stacking portion has an opening opened in an upward and downward direction, and is movable upward and downward with respect to a bottom portion of the storage apparatus body. The rear end regulation attachment is detachably attached to the rear end regulation member, which regulates an upstream end position in the sheet feed direction of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion. The rear end regulation attachment includes a regulating portion that extends toward the bottom portion through the opening. The rear end regulation attachment regulates the upstream end of the sheet on a position downstream, in the sheet feed direction, of a regulating position of the rear end regulation member.