Swingable Paper Stopper Mechanism for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional paper feed devices in multi-function printers lack an effective paper handling structure, leading to paper jams and limited paper feeding capacity due to the restricted movement of the paper stop structure, which is only capable of up and down motion and is often insufficient for handling multiple sheets.
Innovation Solution
A paper stop structure with a movement stopper and a paper stopper that are swingably configured in the paper feed path, connected by a separation structure, allowing the paper stopper to be pushed by an external force to swing and block or separate from the movement stopper, enabling efficient paper feeding and preventing jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the paper stop structure is limited to up and down movement only, then the device complexity is reduced, but the paper feeding capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the paper stop structure from a fixed up-down movement mechanism to a swingable arm mechanism. The paper stop arm can now swing between a first position (blocking paper feed path) and a second position (allowing paper feed), enabling larger amplitude movement and increased paper feeding capacity while maintaining relatively simple structural design.
2Ease of operation
If the paper stop structure uses only up and down movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability for handling multiple paper sheets is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The paper stop arm is designed to swing between two positions rather than move only vertically. This dynamic swing motion allows the structure to adapt to different paper feeding scenarios (single sheet vs. multiple sheets) while maintaining simple operation through automatic positioning based on paper presence detection.
3Device complexity
If the paper stopper and movement stopper are not separated, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing paper jams is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the stopping mechanism into two distinct components: a paper stopper that directly contacts paper sheets and a movement stopper that limits the swing range of the paper stopper. This separation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, improving reliability in preventing paper jams while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement stopper acts as an intermediary element that indirectly controls paper feeding by limiting the paper stopper's movement range. This intermediary mechanism provides reliable jam prevention through a distributed control system rather than a single-point failure design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a paper stop structure, a paper feed unit, and an image forming apparatus. The paper stop structure includes a movement stopper and a paper stopper both swingably configured in a paper feed path, and a separation structure to separate the movement stopper and the paper stopper. In paper stopping state, the paper stopper is pushed by an external force to swing until contacting the movement stopper, and blocks paper sheets from entering the paper feed path. In non-paper stopping state, the paper stopper is pushed by an external force to swing and separates from the movement stopper. Accordingly, various functions of paper feeding, paper stopping, and paper detecting may be achieved, and large capacity paper feeding can also be achieved to improve product operating efficiency and to effectively prevent paper mis-feed and paper jam during the image forming apparatus operation.