Discharge Tray Elevating Mechanism for Media Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Post-processing devices face challenges in properly placing media with varying rigidity, as those with low rigidity are prone to unintended deformation on discharge trays due to gravity, leading to improper alignment and processing issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elevating mechanism that adjusts the position of the discharge tray based on the amount of liquid ejected, environmental parameters, and frictional forces to accommodate media with different rigidity levels, ensuring proper placement and alignment by moving the tray to specific positions before media contact, such as the first or second standby positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the discharge tray is kept at a fixed position, then the device structure is simple, but media with low rigidity deform in unintended directions due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge tray is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable one through the elevating mechanism, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between a normal position and a raised position. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt to different media rigidity conditions, preventing deformation of low-rigidity media while maintaining structural simplicity when high-rigidity media are used.
2Manufacturing precision
If the discharge tray is elevated to prevent deformation, then media placement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elevating mechanism raises the discharge tray to a predetermined position before the low-rigidity media contacts it. This preliminary action prevents deformation from occurring in the first place, ensuring that media are placed accurately without requiring complex post-processing or adjustment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the discharge tray position is adjusted according to liquid ejection amount, then media deformation is prevented, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives information about the liquid ejection amount from the image forming device and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate discharge tray position. When low-rigidity media are detected (indicated by higher liquid ejection amounts), the system automatically elevates the discharge tray to prevent deformation, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to varying media conditions.
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 solution effectively prevents unintended deformation and ensures proper placement of media on the discharge tray, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the post-processing operation by adapting to the changing rigidity and frictional conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge tray that is disposed in a gravity direction with respect to the discharge port
Implementation Method 2
a rigidity of a medium, on which an image is recorded in such a way that ink is ejected, changes according to a state of the ink (a state in which the ink is dried) absorbed into the medium
Implementation Method 3
a frictional force that acts between the first medium and the second medium changes according to an amount of liquid ejected to the first medium
Data Source
AI summary
A post-processing device includes an intermediate tray on which a medium transported in a transport direction is placed, a discharge port through which the medium post-processed on the intermediate tray is discharged, a discharge tray which is disposed in a gravity direction with respect to the discharge port and on which the medium discharged from the discharge port is placed, and an elevating mechanism which elevates the discharge tray, in which the elevating mechanism can move the discharge tray to a first normal position and a first standby position positioned in a direction opposite to the gravity direction with respect to the first normal position, and moves the discharge tray to the first normal position or the first standby position according to an amount of ink before the medium comes in contact with the discharge tray or the medium previously placed on the discharge tray.