Sheet Supplying Device Side Edge Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet supplying devices require multiple cassettes to handle various sheet sizes, including small sizes like postcards, which is cumbersome and inefficient, as they need to be manually switched and stored separately, affecting mechanical strength and stacking reliability.
Innovation Solution
A sheet supplying device with a side edge alignment member and an auxiliary side edge alignment member that can adjust to align both standard and small-sized sheets without the need for multiple cassettes, using a rack-and-pinion system and magnetic or clicking mechanisms to secure positions, ensuring proper alignment and mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If side edge alignment members are shifted to inner positions to accommodate small-sized sheets, then small sheets can be stacked, but distance between long cavity and empty spaces must be reduced which compromises the strength of sheet stacking member
Solution Approach 1:
The side edge alignment function is divided into two independent systems: main side edge alignment members (103, 104) for standard sheets and auxiliary side edge alignment members (171, 172) for small sheets. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, enabling small sheet handling without compromising the structural integrity of the main alignment members and sheet stacking member.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary side edge alignment members are integrated within the structure of the main side edge alignment members. The auxiliary members can be positioned inside the cavities formed by the main members, allowing small sheets to be aligned without requiring the main members to move to inner positions that would compromise structural strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cassettes are used to handle various sheet sizes, then all sheet sizes can be accommodated, but manual switching and separate storage are required which is cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet supplying device is designed with a universal alignment system that can handle multiple sheet sizes within a single cassette. The main side edge alignment members accommodate standard sheets while the auxiliary members enable small sheet handling, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cassettes and manual switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary side edge alignment members are designed to be movable and可切换 (switchable), allowing the system to dynamically adapt between handling standard sheets and small sheets. This dynamic capability enables a single cassette to serve multiple functions without manual reconfiguration.
3Manufacturing precision
If empty spaces are increased to accommodate alignment members, then alignment is improved, but it becomes difficult to flatly stack large sized sheets which affects conveyance reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented into main alignment members for standard sheets and auxiliary alignment members for small sheets. This segmentation allows the main members to maintain their position for reliable large sheet stacking while the auxiliary members provide the necessary alignment capability for small sheets without interfering with the stacking stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet supplying device, including a sheet stacking member which can stack various sized sheets, a side edge alignment member which moves perpendicular to a sheet supplying direction and aligns at least one of side edges of the stacked sheets placed on the sheet stacking member, and an auxiliary side edge alignment member which is provided on the side edge alignment member and ejects in a moving direction of the side edge alignment member and which aligns stacked sheets whose width is narrower than that of the stacked sheets which are to be aligned by the side edge alignment member.