Document Feeder Discharge Tray Support for Long Sheet Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document feeding devices face issues with reduced conveyability and stackability of documents due to protruding ends hanging down, especially when documents are longer than the feed tray, leading to difficulties in maintaining smooth document movement and stable stacking.
Innovation Solution
A document feeding device with a restricting portion that includes a first and second extension portion, where the second extension portion extends upward from the first, supporting the protruding end of documents on the discharge tray to prevent hanging and ensure stable stacking and conveyability, regardless of document size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If documents are placed on the sheet discharge tray, then documents are discharged and received, but protruding ends of long documents hang down causing reduced conveyability and stackability
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portion extends in the depth direction (third direction) from the sheet discharge tray to provide support at a location beyond the tray end. This dimensional extension allows the restricting portion to intercept and support protruding document ends that would otherwise hang down, converting the problem of document length exceeding tray dimensions into a solvable spatial arrangement issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting portion acts as an intermediary element between the sheet discharge tray and the protruding document ends. It provides intermediate support at the location where documents protrude from the tray, preventing them from hanging down and ensuring proper conveyability and stackability without requiring modification to the documents or the tray itself.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sheet discharge tray is kept simple in structure, then manufacturing is easier, but it cannot support protruding ends of long documents
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented from the sheet discharge tray structure. Instead of making the tray itself more complex to support long documents, the restricting portion is introduced as a separate, simple component that performs the specific function of supporting protruding ends. This segmentation allows the tray to remain simple while adding the necessary adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting portion serves multiple functions: it supports protruding document ends, prevents documents from hanging down, and maintains proper document orientation for stacking. This single component provides multi-functionality that enhances the overall system's capability to handle documents of various sizes without requiring multiple separate mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A document feeding device (3) includes a sheet feed tray (31), a sheet discharge tray (32), and a restricting portion (33). The sheet feed tray (31) feeds documents (M) to be fed in a first direction (X1). The sheet discharge tray (32), to which the fed document (M) is discharged in a second direction (X2) opposite to the first direction (X1), is arranged below the sheet feed tray (31). The restricting portion (33) restricts movement in the second direction (X2) of the document (M) discharged onto the sheet discharge tray (32). The restricting portion (33) includes a first extension portion (330) and a second extension portion (340). The first extension portion (330) extends in the second direction (X2) from an end in the second direction (X2) of the sheet discharge tray (32). The second extension portion (340) extends upward in an up direction from the first extension portion (330).