Document Conveying Device With Biasing Stopper for Full Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Document conveying devices face issues with the smooth conveyance of small and large documents through curved paths, and the discharge tray may not fully close, leading to documents being discharged when in a half-open state.
Innovation Solution
A document conveying device with a cover system comprising a first and second cover plate, a stopper, and a biasing member, where the cover is designed to ensure the discharge tray is fully closed by setting forces such that the closing force exceeds the opening force, and the biasing member moves the stopper to a position that locks the tray in the closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the discharge tray is allowed to remain in a half-open state, then the detection sensor cannot detect the closed state and documents may be discharged incorrectly, but the cover structure becomes simpler without additional locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member applies a preliminary biasing force to the stopper, pre-positioning it to engage with the cover when closed. This preliminary action ensures that the cover is automatically pushed to the closed position without requiring active detection or complex locking mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while avoiding increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover structure utilizes its own weight (F1 > F2) in combination with the biasing member to automatically return to the closed position. The system serves itself by using gravitational force and elastic biasing rather than requiring external actuators or complex sensor-based control systems, thus improving reliability without adding device complexity.
2Reliability
If the cover is designed with a complex locking mechanism to ensure full closure, then the closed state detection reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member acts as a counterweight mechanism, using elastic force to counterbalance the cover's weight and automatically return it to the closed position. This eliminates the need for complex locking mechanisms while maintaining reliable closure, and the operation remains simple as the cover naturally returns to its closed state without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper is pre-positioned by the biasing member to engage with the cover's closed position. This preliminary positioning ensures that whenever the cover is released, it automatically returns to the correct closed state, providing reliability without requiring complex locking or multiple operational steps from the user.
3Reliability
If the biasing force of the biasing member is increased to ensure the cover closes fully, then the closed state reliability improves, but the force required to open the cover increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing force is applied locally and selectively - it strongly promotes closure when the cover is in the closed position (ensuring reliability), but the user can still open the cover by applying force at the handle or edge where the local quality of the structure allows for easy initiation of opening motion. The force distribution is optimized to be strong where needed for closure but not prohibitively strong for opening.
4Reliability
If the stopper is positioned at the end of the elongated hole to maximize closing force, then the closed state reliability improves, but the cover may not fully close due to insufficient force to overcome the opening force F2
Solution Approach 1:
The position parameter of the stopper is optimized to a specific location within the elongated hole (not at the extreme end) where the biasing member can effectively push the stopper to engage the cover. This parameter change ensures that the closing force is sufficient to overcome the opening force F2 and achieve complete closure, while maintaining reliable engagement. The stopper position is tuned to achieve the optimal balance between closing force and engagement reliability.
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
Prevents the discharge tray from being in a half-open state, ensuring documents are properly discharged and preventing errors by maintaining the tray in a fully closed or fully open position, enhancing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing force of the biasing member is set smaller than the force F2... the movable end is biased to the position P by the biasing member
Implementation Method 2
a force for turning the cover in a closing direction caused by its own weight is set to F1, and a force for turning the cover in an opening direction caused by its own weigh is set to F2, the position P is set such that the force F1 is larger than the force F2 (F1>F2)
Data Source
AI summary
A document conveying device includes a cover, a rigid stopper, and a biasing member. The cover includes a first cover plate and a second cover plate. The stopper is rigid, has a fixed end rotatably connected to the cover and a movable end moving in an elongated hole formed in the device main body accordance with a turning of the cover, and supports the cover in a fully opened posture when the movable end is locked to one end of the elongated hole. The biasing member moves the movable end of the stopper to a position P separated by a predetermined distance from the one end of the elongated hole.