Sheet Supplying Apparatus Cam Gear Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet supplying apparatuses face issues with multi-feeding due to varying pressing forces and increased manufacturing costs and noise from components like torque limiters and solenoids, which are used to manage the pickup and alignment of sheets.
Innovation Solution
A sheet supplying apparatus that switches the locations of the pickup roller and alignment member using forward and backward rotations of a main gear, eliminating the need for torque limiters, spring clutches, and solenoids, thereby stabilizing the pressing force and reducing noise and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a torque limiter or spring clutch is mounted on the shaft to rotate the holder, then the pickup roller can be made to contact/apart from paper, but the driving load increases and noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the torque limiter and spring clutch from the shaft mechanism. Instead of using these components to control the holder rotation, the patent uses a different mechanism (a cam-shaped member on the oscillating member that directly engages with the holder) to achieve the same function without the harmful noise and driving load associated with traditional torque limiting devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical system involving shaft, spring clutch, and torque limiter with an oscillating member mechanism. The oscillating member, driven by the oscillating drive member, directly controls the holder rotation through cam-shaped engagement, substituting the complex mechanical system with a simpler, quieter alternative that eliminates the need for elastic members and torque limiting components.
2Ease of operation
If a solenoid is employed to drive the stopper for switching between alignment and feeding locations, then the stopper can be driven, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the solenoid-driven mechanical system with a fully mechanical oscillating mechanism. The oscillating drive member, through its cam-shaped portion, directly controls the stopper position switching without requiring any electromagnetic actuators. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for expensive solenoids while maintaining the ability to switch between alignment and feeding locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating drive member serves multiple functions: it drives the oscillating member, controls the holder rotation, positions the stopper, and coordinates the timing of various components. This multi-functional mechanical element replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate actuators including solenoids, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining operational capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pickup roller pressing force varies, then the pickup mechanism can adapt to different conditions, but the risk of multi-feeding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pressing force parameter from a fixed or manually adjustable value to a dynamically controlled value through the oscillating mechanism. The oscillating drive member varies the pressing force in a controlled manner during the oscillation cycle, providing optimal pressing force during pickup while preventing excessive force that could cause multi-feeding. This parameter change enables both adaptability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating member provides periodic action to the pickup roller, creating a rhythmic pressing and releasing cycle. During the pressing phase, sufficient force is applied to ensure reliable pickup; during the releasing phase, the force is reduced to prevent multi-feeding. This periodic variation in pressing force maintains both adaptability to different paper conditions and reliability in preventing feeding errors.
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
This solution enables stable sheet feeding without multi-feeding risks and reduces operational noise and manufacturing costs by using a cam gear and elastic members to pivot the pickup and alignment components, allowing for efficient sheet handling without additional driving sources.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member that applies, to the holder, an elastic force in a direction in which the holder is pivoted to the pickup location
Implementation Method 2
using a cam gear and elastic members to pivot the pickup and alignment components
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A sheet supplying apparatus includes an alignment member pivotable to an alignment location for blocking and aligning fore-ends of media contained on a loading table, and a transport-allowing location for allowing a medium picked up by a pickup member to be transported, a cam gear including a gear portion partially including a tooth-omitted portion, and a cam portion for switching the alignment member between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location at first and second rotating locations, a swing arm pivotable about a same axis as a rotation axis of a main gear, and first and second swing gears supported by the swing arm to interlock with the main gear, selectively interlocking with the gear portion according to a rotating direction of the main gear, and rotating the cam gear to the first and second rotating locations.