Document Feed Device Scooper Prevents Guide Damage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Document feed devices often damage documents when the document guide is adjusted to accommodate different sizes, as the end side of the document can enter the lower side of the document guide, especially with larger document loads and smaller guide widths, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A document feed device with a document tray and guide featuring a scooper and an upstream outline portion that gradually approaches the document guide member, preventing the document end from entering the lower side of the guide during adjustments, even when the guide is opened wider than the document size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the document guide side document loader width is reduced to accommodate multiple document sizes, then the adaptability for different document sizes is improved, but the risk of document damage increases as the document end can more easily enter the lower side of the document loader

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability for different document sizesVSAvoiddocument damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scooper protrudes from the document guide side document loader to preliminarily scoop up the end side of the document before the document guide is fully adjusted. This preliminary action prevents the document end from entering the lower side of the document loader during the adjustment process, thereby preventing document damage while maintaining adaptability for different document sizes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scooper acts as an intermediary element between the document guide side document loader and the document end. It mediates the interaction by actively engaging the document end during guide adjustment, preventing direct contact between the document end and the potentially harmful lower side of the document loader

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the document guide is adjusted after document loading, then the adaptability for different document sizes is improved, but the document may be damaged when the document guide moves toward the loaded document

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument size adjustment capabilityVSAvoiddocument safety during adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The scooper performs a preliminary scooping action on the document end before the document guide completes its adjustment movement. This ensures that the document end is securely engaged and prevented from entering the lower side of the document loader during the adjustment process, maintaining document safety while enabling size adaptation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scooper applies a preliminary anti-action by opposing the potential harmful movement of the document end toward the lower side of the document loader. It creates a counter-force or barrier that prevents the document end from entering the dangerous zone during guide adjustment, thereby protecting document integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS11878884B2Document feed device, and image forming device including the same

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 SHARP KK

AI summary

A document feed device including a document tray and a document guide. The document guide has a document guide side document loader and a document guide member. The document tray includes a groove. The document guide, at an end of the document guide side document loader in the width direction, includes: a scooper, and an upstream outline portion that is formed so as to gradually approach the document guide member toward an upstream side in the conveying direction with the scooper as an apex.