Trailing Edge Regulating Member for Paper Cassette Footprint Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing paper feeding cassettes in image forming apparatuses require additional space for trailing edge regulating plates, leading to increased size and reduced paper capacity, as they need to accommodate various paper sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A paper feeding cassette with a trailing edge regulating member that includes a base portion, upright walls, and elastic portions to regulate the trailing edge of paper media, allowing for efficient alignment and storage of larger paper sizes without increasing the apparatus's floor area, utilizing a resin molded product with specific design features to ensure precise positioning and movement control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a trailing edge regulating plate is provided in the paper feeding cassette to accommodate various sizes of paper media, then the adaptability for different paper sizes is improved, but the area of the floor of the image forming apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing edge regulating member is designed to be slidable along the guide region in the bottom of the tray housing, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position according to different paper sizes. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the same cassette to accommodate various paper formats without requiring multiple fixed regulating plates, thereby maintaining adaptability while avoiding floor area increase
Solution Approach 2:
The trailing edge regulating member is divided into functionally distinct portions: a base portion for sliding movement, a first upright portion for contacting the rear sidewall, and a second upright portion for extending above the rear sidewall. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling compact design that fits within the existing cassette footprint
2Area of stationary object
If the capacity of the paper feeding cassette is reduced to decrease the maximum size of stored paper media, then the area of the floor of the image forming apparatus is maintained, but the paper storage capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The second upright portion of the trailing edge regulating member extends vertically above the rear sidewall, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than occupying horizontal space. This allows the regulating function to be achieved without reducing the horizontal paper storage area, thereby maintaining both floor area constraints and paper capacity
3Reliability
If a trailing edge regulating plate is provided to ensure reliable regulation of paper position, then the reliability of paper alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing edge regulating member utilizes the existing rear sidewall structure as a reference and support element. The first upright portion contacts the rear sidewall to define the rearmost position, while the second upright portion extends above it to provide the actual trailing edge regulation. This self-service approach leverages existing structural elements rather than requiring completely independent regulating mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while controlling complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The rear end face of the first upright portion of a trailing edge regulating member is brought into contact with the inner face of a notched sidewall provided in a rear sidewall, and the second upright portion is located above the notched sidewall.