Discharge Tray Rail Segmentation for Warping Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyance apparatuses face issues with tray disengagement due to warping under sheet weight or external forces, compromising the stability and functionality of the discharge tray in image recording devices.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a discharge tray design featuring first, second, and third rail sections arranged at different positions, where the first and third rail sections have protruding sections to support a lower tray, ensuring engagement is maintained even if the tray warps, using a combination of ribs and protrusions to stabilize the tray structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If trays are connected by rail structures at both end portions in the widthwise direction, then the trays can be slidably supported, but the trays may be warped and engagements may be broken when weight is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The rail structure is divided into multiple sections (first rail section, second rail section, third rail section) arranged at different positions in the widthwise direction. Each rail section has ribs extending downwardly and protruding sections that engage with corresponding recesses in the lower tray, distributing the support function across multiple segmented elements rather than relying on a single continuous rail structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the rail structure have different functional characteristics. The ribs extend downwardly to provide localized support points, while the protruding sections provide engagement features. The rail sections are positioned at different locations (first and third at opposite positions relative to the second) to provide distributed support across the tray width, preventing warping while maintaining slidable support.
2Volume of moving object
If multiple trays are overlapped to make the discharge tray compact, then the discharge tray becomes small-sized, but the support surface is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trays are arranged in an overlapped configuration where the second tray is positioned on the lower side of the first tray, with the first tray having rail sections that extend downward to support the second tray. This nested arrangement allows the trays to be stored in a compact vertical configuration while still providing adequate support surface area when deployed, as each tray maintains its full horizontal area while being supported by the rail structure of the tray above.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance unit which conveys sheets and a discharge tray which supports the sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit. The discharge tray includes: a first tray which has first, second and third rail sections arranged at different positions respectively in a widthwise direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction and extending respectively in the conveyance direction; and a second tray which is arranged on a lower side of the first tray and which is slidably supported by the first, second, and third rail sections. The first rail section and the third rail section are contrary to each other in relation to the positions in the widthwise direction with respect to the second rail section. The first rail section has a first rib and a first protruding section; and the second rail section has a second rib and a second protruding section.