Paper Discharge Tray Projections for Width Position Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paper discharge trays experience variation in the width direction positions of discharged paper due to a flat support face, leading to instability and potential drooping of paper.
Innovation Solution
A medium supporting device with a support portion and an extension support portion, featuring inclined projections at both ends to restrict width direction movement and impart stiffness, ensuring the paper bends and stabilizes under its own weight, even when the extension support is in a stored state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat support face is used in the paper discharge tray, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but variation in the width direction positions of discharged paper occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The support face is modified with protrusions at specific locations (both ends in the discharge direction) that create localized height variations. These protrusions provide specific functional properties (restricting paper movement) only where needed, while the rest of the support face remains relatively simple. This resolves the contradiction by adding minimal complexity only where it serves the positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are designed with inclined surfaces that slope upward toward the discharge direction. This curved/inclined geometry causes paper discharged onto the support face to naturally align with the inclined surfaces, restricting width direction movement. The inclined shape transforms the flat, featureless support face into one that actively guides and positions paper through its geometric form.
2Length of moving object
If the extension support portion is pulled out to extend the discharge tray length, then longer paper can be discharged, but the position stability of paper in the width direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support face is segmented into multiple functional zones: the first protrusion at one end, the second protrusion at the other end, and the intermediate flat region. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function - the protrusions restrict width direction movement at critical locations, while the intermediate region provides support. This segmented approach maintains position stability even when the tray is extended.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are positioned at specific locations (both ends in the discharge direction) where they locally restrict paper movement in the width direction. This localized structural feature ensures that paper maintains positional stability throughout the extended tray length, with the protrusions providing reinforcement at critical points without requiring the entire tray structure to be more complex.
3Manufacturing precision
If projections are added to restrict paper movement, then position consistency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than adding complex structures across the entire support face, only two simple protrusions are added at strategic locations (both ends in the discharge direction). Each protrusion has a simple inclined shape that effectively restricts paper movement in the width direction. This minimal addition of local features achieves position consistency without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions utilize simple inclined surfaces that slope upward toward the discharge direction. This geometric feature is straightforward to manufacture and integrates easily into the existing tray structure. The inclined shape provides the necessary paper guidance function without requiring complex mechanisms, maintaining relatively low device complexity while improving position consistency.
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 effectively suppresses variation in the width direction positions of discharged paper, maintaining stability and preventing drooping, even when the paper is in a stacked state or when the extension support is in a shortened state.
Implementation Method 1
both width direction ends of the medium discharged onto the support face ride over the pair of second projections as the pair of first projections restrict width direction movement of the medium
Implementation Method 2
First projections projecting upward above the height of the support face are provided, as a pair, at both ends of the discharge direction leading end side of the support portion so as to be inclined upward on progression toward the discharge direction side
Implementation Method 3
causing the medium to bend such that the width direction central portion of the medium droops down under its own weight
Data Source
AI summary
A discharge tray includes a main tray having a support face that supports discharged paper, and an extension tray being supported by the main tray, and being capable of movement between a storage position in which the extension tray is stored in the main tray and an extended position in which the extension tray has been moved to extend along a discharge direction of the paper from a leading end side of the main tray in the discharge direction. A pair of first projections is provided to both ends at the discharge direction leading end side of the main tray, and a pair of second projections that project upward is provided to both ends at the discharge direction leading end side of the extension tray. The pair of second projections are positioned to the inside of the pair of first projections in a width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction.