Sheet Storage Regulating Unit Dynamics for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet storage devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in adjusting the urging force for sheet regulation, leading to issues such as image defects and paper jams due to varying sheet quantities, as the force required to prevent buckling differs from that needed to ensure proper sheet feeding.
Innovation Solution
A sheet storage device with a regulating unit that includes a pressing portion with adjustable pressing surfaces and an urging member, allowing the pressing surface to change its position based on the quantity of sheets, ensuring optimal contact with the sheet feeding roller regardless of sheet quantity, thereby maintaining stable sheet feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the urging force of the urging member is increased to push out sheets when the quantity of stacked sheets is large, then the sheets can be fed out properly, but sheet buckling occurs when the quantity of stacked sheets is small
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing surface is designed to be movable relative to the pressing portion, allowing its position to change dynamically based on the quantity of stacked sheets. When sheets are plentiful, the pressing surface is positioned to apply greater urging force; when sheets are scarce, it repositions to apply reduced force, preventing buckling while maintaining reliable sheet feeding
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the pressing surface along the conveyance direction is changed as a variable parameter. By adjusting this position, the effective urging force applied to the sheets is modified to match the sheet quantity condition, resolving the contradiction between needing strong force for large stacks and gentle force for small stacks
2Ease of operation
If the lift plate is lifted higher to bring the sheet feeding roller and front edge portion closer, then sheet feeding is improved for small quantities, but the distance from the rear edge portion to the roller increases causing conveyance delay
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly lifting the entire sheet stack, the lift plate selectively lifts only the front edge portion of the sheets. This localized action brings the front edge closer to the sheet feeding roller for reliable feeding without increasing the distance from the rear edge to the roller, thus avoiding conveyance delay
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet stack is functionally segmented into front edge portion and rear edge portion. The lifting mechanism acts only on the front edge portion, separating the lifting function from the overall sheet position, allowing independent optimization of feeding reliability without affecting conveyance timing
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 allows for consistent and stable sheet feeding by adjusting the pressing force according to the quantity of sheets, reducing the risk of image defects and paper jams, and ensuring proper alignment with the sheet feeding roller.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member configured to urge the pressing portion to cause the pressing surface to press the sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet storage device includes a sheet storage unit to store sheets, a regulating unit in the sheet storage unit, and a lifting unit. The regulating unit regulates a position of a rear edge portion of the sheets in a sheet conveyance direction and includes a supporting portion, an urging member, and a pressing portion having a pressing surface in which a position to be in contact with lower sheets is a pressing surface lower portion, and a position to be in contact with upper sheets located higher than the lower sheets is a pressing surface upper portion. The pressing surface can be in a first state, where the pressing surface upper portion is located downstream from the pressing surface lower portion in a pressing direction, or in a second state, where the pressing surface lower portion is located downstream from the pressing surface upper portion in the pressing direction.