Discharge Device Opening-Closing Part Angle Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing discharge devices in image forming apparatuses face issues with medium falling from the opening/closing part due to insufficient angle control, leading to poor loading and potential damage during the discharge process.
Innovation Solution
A discharge device with a support portion having an inclined surface and an opening/closing part with adjustable angles, ensuring the centroid of the medium is positioned upstream of the downstream end, and an imaginary line from the inclined surface's upstream end aligns with the opening/closing part's loading surface, preventing medium movement and falling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the angle of the imaginary line extending to the upper end from the upstream end of the inclined surface is made small, then the medium can move freely downstream, but the medium may fall from the opening/closing part
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the angle of the opening/closing part (20° to 40°) and the inclination of the support portion to optimize medium retention while maintaining operational flow. This resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal parameter range that prevents medium falling without excessive restriction on movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening/closing part is designed to be rotatable and adjustable, allowing dynamic adaptation to different medium sizes and discharge conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain reliable medium retention while allowing adequate movement, resolving the contradiction between stability and operability.
2Reliability
If the angle of the opening/closing part is increased to prevent medium falling, then medium retention is improved, but medium movement to the downstream side is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes an optimal angle range (20° to 40°) for the opening/closing part that balances medium retention and movement. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by preventing medium falling while maintaining sufficient downstream movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable opening/closing part can be dynamically adjusted based on medium size and discharge requirements. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize retention angles for different conditions without permanently restricting movement, resolving the contradiction between retention and operability.
3Ease of operation
If the support portion is positioned upstream to guide medium flow, then medium direction control is improved, but the medium may not be properly supported at the upper end
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is designed with an inclined surface that dynamically guides medium flow from the loading part to the upper end. This inclined configuration provides both direction control and proper support, resolving the contradiction by simultaneously achieving flow guidance and stable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion extends in the vertical dimension with an inclined surface, adding a vertical component to the medium guidance path. This dimensional approach allows the support portion to control horizontal flow direction while providing vertical support, resolving the contradiction between direction control and support stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A discharge device includes a placement part on which a medium discharged from an apparatus body is placed and from which the medium is returned to the apparatus body, a loading part which is disposed on a lower side of the placement part to have a space between the loading part and the placement part and on which the medium discharged to the space from the apparatus body in a predetermined discharge direction is loaded, a support portion that is provided on the loading part to protrude toward an upper side of the loading part, includes an inclined surface having an upward gradient toward a downstream side in the discharge direction, and supports the medium which is loaded on the loading part at an upper end of the inclined surface, and an opening/closing part of which one end is rotatably mounted on a downstream portion of the loading part in the discharge direction and is opened and closed to a closed position where the opening/closing part closes a downstream portion of the space in the discharge direction and an open position where the downstream portion is open and a part of the medium loaded on the loading part is loaded on the opening/closing part; and an angle of a loading surface of the opening/closing part at the open position with respect to a horizontal is set to an angle at which a movement of the medium to the downstream side in the discharge direction is limited such that a centroid of a longest medium loaded on the loading part and the loading surface is positioned upstream of a downstream end of the opening/closing part in the discharge direction, and an imaginary line extending to the upper end from an upstream end of the inclined surface of the support portion in the discharge direction is along the loading surface of the opening/closing part at the open position.