Conveyor Tray Protrusion Retraction Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyors with vertically arranged receiving trays face difficulties in removing media from lower trays, especially those with smaller dimensions, due to reduced space between trays as the apparatus size decreases, making it challenging to extract media from lower trays without obstruction.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor system includes a support mechanism that allows at least one lower tray to be selectively positioned higher, and a force transmitting mechanism that enables the protruding portion of the lower tray to retract when an adjacent upper tray moves upward, facilitating easier removal of media by enlarging the workspace and allowing the protruding portion to change its position based on the media's dimension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the apparatus size is decreased, then the overall compactness is improved, but the space between adjacent receiving trays decreases making it difficult to remove media from lower trays
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving trays are made movable between a receiving position and an upper position. When media needs to be removed from a lower tray, the tray can be moved upward to create clearance space, allowing easy access and removal of media even in compact apparatus configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing horizontal space to facilitate media removal, the solution utilizes the vertical dimension by moving trays upward. This vertical movement creates the necessary clearance space without increasing the overall apparatus footprint.
2Productivity
If a protruding portion is added to prevent media from being caught on the stopper member, then the media discharge function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding portion is positioned in advance to prevent media from being caught on the stopper member during the discharge process. This preliminary positioning of the protruding portion ensures smooth media discharge without requiring additional complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portion is integrated into the tray structure itself, allowing the tray to perform the function of guiding and discharging media without requiring separate external components. The tray structure serves multiple functions including support, positioning, and media discharge guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor, including: receiving trays; a conveyance mechanism; and a support supporting the trays, wherein at least one tray except a lowermost tray is supported so as to be selectively positioned at one of a receiving position and an upper position, wherein at least one lower tray except an uppermost tray includes a protruding portion attached to a tray body so as to be selectively positioned at one of a protruding position and a retracted position, and wherein the conveyor includes a force transmitting mechanism for effectuating at least one of (a) a retracting movement of the protruding portion of one of the at least one lower tray from the protruding position to the retracted position caused by an upward movement of an adjacent upper tray disposed just above and immediately adjacent to the one of the at least one lower tray from the receiving position to the upper position.