Single Sheet-Feeding Mechanism for Multi-Function Peripheral

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-function peripherals require two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms for scanning and printing, leading to resource wastage, increased costs, and complex system integration.

Innovation Solution

A multi-function peripheral design utilizing a single sheet-feeding mechanism that feeds documents and sheets along a shared path, enabling both scanning and printing operations, thereby integrating the functions of a scan module and a print module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms are used for scan and print functions, then each function can be independently optimized, but the device complexity, manufacturing cost, and occupied space increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional independenceVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms into a single shared mechanism that serves both scanning and printing functions. The sheet-feeding mechanism includes a sheet input tray, sheet output tray, and sheet feeding rollers that feed sheets to both the scan module and print module through a common sheet feeding path, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining functional versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet-feeding mechanism is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple functions - feeding documents to the scan module for scanning operations and feeding sheets to the print module for printing operations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate feeding mechanisms while maintaining the ability to independently perform both scan and print functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms are used, then scan and print operations can be independently optimized, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional independenceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By combining two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms into one shared mechanism, the patent reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. The single mechanism includes common components such as the sheet input tray, sheet output tray, and sheet feeding rollers that serve both functions, thereby lowering manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The universal sheet-feeding mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions (feeding for scan and feeding for print) using a single set of components. This eliminates the need to manufacture and stock separate mechanisms, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining functional independence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms are used, then each function has dedicated feeding capability, but occupied space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvededicated feeding capabilityVSAvoidoccupied space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the spatial requirements of two separate sheet-feeding mechanisms into a single compact mechanism. The shared mechanism uses common components (input tray, output tray, rollers) that are positioned to serve both the scan module and print module, thereby reducing the occupied space while maintaining dedicated feeding capability for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If a single sheet-feeding mechanism is used for both scan and print operations, then manufacturing cost decreases and space is saved, but the mechanism must serve multiple functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidmulti-function requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet-feeding mechanism is explicitly designed as a universal component with multi-functionality. It includes a sheet input tray, sheet output tray, and sheet feeding rollers that can feed documents to the scan module and sheets to the print module through a common sheet feeding path, satisfying the multi-function requirement while reducing manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7298388B2Multi-function peripheral with a single sheet-feeding mechanism

Publication Date: 2007.11.20 AVISION

AI summary

A multi-function peripheral includes a first scan module for scanning a front side of a to-be-scanned document, a print module for printing data on a to-be-printed sheet, and a sheet-feeding mechanism for feeding the to-be-scanned document and the to-be-printed sheet and for moving the to-be-scanned document and the to-be-printed sheet along a sheet feeding path and across the first scan module and the print module.