Feeding Tray Support Ribs for Stable Sheet Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in stably conveying sheets with high conveying resistance, such as glossy or thick papers, due to deflection of the sheet feeding tray and increased arm angle, which prevents the application of sufficient frictional force and conveying force, and this issue cannot be resolved by increasing the tray size.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a base member with a detachable sheet feeding tray and support ribs to enhance the rigidity of the tray's bottom, along with a roller arm and torsion coil springs to maintain a consistent arm angle and apply pressure effectively, preventing tray deflection and ensuring stable sheet conveyance without enlarging the tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the sheet feeding roller is pressed against the recording sheet under high pressure to increase conveying force, then the conveying force is improved, but the bottom of the sheet feeding tray deflects and the arm angle increases causing the roller to move upstream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement by providing support ribs at specific locations on the bottom of the sheet feeding tray, particularly at the upstream side where the sheet feeding roller contacts the tray. This localized structural enhancement prevents deflection at critical areas without requiring uniform thickening of the entire tray bottom, thus resolving the contradiction between applying high pressing force and preventing tray deflection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the thickness of the bottom of the sheet feeding tray is increased to raise flexural rigidity, then the tray deflection is reduced, but the size of the sheet feeding tray and the entire image forming apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reinforcement structure into discrete support ribs that are integrally formed with the tray bottom. Instead of uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire tray bottom, the reinforcement is divided into specific rib structures located at critical areas, thereby achieving the required flexural rigidity without increasing the overall tray volume or apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds structural complexity in the vertical dimension by incorporating support ribs that extend downward from the tray bottom, creating a three-dimensional reinforcement structure. This allows the tray to achieve higher flexural rigidity through structural geometry rather than increasing material thickness, thus avoiding volume increase.
3Volume of moving object
If the bottom of the sheet feeding tray has small flexural rigidity, then the tray size is reduced, but the tray deflects under high pressure and cannot produce sufficient frictional force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement by providing support ribs at specific locations on the bottom of the sheet feeding tray, particularly at the upstream side where the sheet feeding roller contacts the tray. This localized structural enhancement prevents deflection at critical areas without requiring uniform thickening of the entire tray bottom, thus resolving the contradiction between applying high pressing force and preventing tray deflection.
4Force
If the arm angle is increased due to tray deflection, then the sheet feeding roller moves toward the upstream side, but the roller cannot apply conveying force to the recording sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The support ribs are strategically positioned at the upstream side of the tray bottom where the sheet feeding roller makes contact. This localized reinforcement prevents deflection at the critical contact area, maintaining the proper arm angle and ensuring the roller can effectively apply frictional force to convey the recording sheet without moving upstream.
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 configuration allows for stable feeding of sheets with high conveying resistance while maintaining a compact apparatus size, reducing manufacturing costs and assembly time by integrating support ribs into the tray's design, ensuring consistent conveyance without excessive arm angle increase.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom portion has a first side that is configured to hold a recording sheet and a second side that is opposite to the first side... The supporting member is provided at the second side of the bottom portion and is configured to support the bottom portion against the pressing force
Implementation Method 2
a roller arm and torsion coil springs to maintain a consistent arm angle and apply pressure effectively
Data Source
AI summary
A feeding tray is detachably mounted on a base member and includes a bottom portion. The bottom portion has a first side that is configured to hold a recording sheet and a second side opposite the first side. An image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet. A feeding roller is configured to rotatingly contact the recording sheet held in the feeding tray, thereby feeding the recording sheet toward the image forming unit in a conveying direction. A roller arm has one end that rotatably supports the feeding roller and another end opposite the one end. The roller arm is configured to swing about the another end, thereby generating a pressing force for pressing the feeding roller against the recording sheet. A supporting member is provided at the second side of the bottom portion and is configured to support the bottom portion against the pressing force.