Sheet Storage Apparatus with Pneumatic Holding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet storage apparatuses face issues with sheet floating and feeding failures due to inadequate mechanisms for restricting sheet movement and ensuring proper alignment during the feeding process, particularly when using air blowing to float sheets for feeding to image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A sheet storage apparatus with a pivoting top cover, a blowing device that generates airflow to float sheets, and a pivotable sheet holding-down member with a moving mechanism that adjusts its position based on the top cover's state, ensuring sheets are properly aligned and fed without obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed sheet holding-down member is used to restrict sheet floating, then sheet alignment is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases and sheet feeding reliability deteriorates due to interference with sheet supply
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet holding-down member is changed from a fixed structure to a movable one that can pivot between a holding position and a retracted position. This dynamic adjustment allows the member to restrict sheet floating during feeding while retracting to avoid interfering with sheet supply, thereby resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and feeding reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet holding-down member is configured to be automatically moved by the blowing device's airflow rather than requiring an external actuator. The airflow itself serves as the actuating force, simplifying the mechanism while maintaining the ability to dynamically adjust the holding member's position for both sheet alignment and reliable feeding
2Manufacturing precision
If a movable sheet holding-down member is used to restrict sheet floating, then sheet alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blowing device's airflow is utilized to automatically move the sheet holding-down member to the holding position, and the natural cessation of airflow allows it to return to the retracted position. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external actuators, sensors, and control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining improved sheet alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The movable sheet holding-down member is actuated by pneumatic force from the blowing device rather than mechanical actuators. This pneumatic actuation simplifies the mechanism by using airflow pressure to move the holding member, reducing the complexity of mechanical transmission components while achieving precise sheet alignment
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 restricts sheet floating, aligns sheets for efficient feeding, and prevents feeding failures by using airflow to position sheets correctly and a moving mechanism that adjusts the holding-down member's position in response to the top cover's movement, enhancing the reliability of sheet feeding to image forming apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
The blowing device blows air along a sheet width direction toward the sheets in the sheet storage section
Implementation Method 2
this sheet holding-down member abuts against the sheets floated by the blowing device, to thereby restrict the floating of the sheets at the feeding position
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a sheet storage apparatus including: an apparatus body; a sheet storage section; a top cover; a sheet feeding section; a restricting cursor; a blowing device; a sheet holding-down member; and a moving mechanism. The sheet storage section includes a sheet supply port, and a sheet stacking portion. The top cover is pivotable to an opening position and to a closing position. The blowing device includes a fan and a vent. The sheet holding-down member includes a restricting piece. The moving mechanism is coupled to the sheet holding-down member, moves the sheet holding-down member to a restricting position by coming into contact with the top cover under a state in which the top cover has come to the closing position, and moves the sheet holding-down member to a retracted position by separating from the top cover when the top cover is moved to the opening position.