Ejection Tray Retraction Mechanism for Compact Media Conveyors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium conveying apparatuses face challenges in efficiently storing and deploying ejection trays, which can lead to increased size and complexity, especially when handling larger media.
Innovation Solution
A medium conveying apparatus with a mechanism that includes a first mechanism to swing and stop an ejection tray at a midway position and a second mechanism to retract the tray, utilizing gears and torque limiters to control the tray's movement, allowing for compact storage and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ejection tray is retracted while media is loaded on it, then the tray returns to stored position, but the frictional resistance from the loaded media makes retraction difficult and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The retraction process is divided into two distinct phases: first swinging the tray to a midway position, then retracting it to the stored position. This segmentation allows the system to handle the high frictional resistance during retraction by performing it in a controlled second phase after media has been transferred off the tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor performs a preliminary action by transferring media from the ejection tray to the media tray before the retraction phase begins. This preliminary media transfer reduces the load on the ejection tray, thereby reducing frictional resistance during the subsequent retraction operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ejection tray is fully extended to accommodate large media, then large media can be placed on it, but the apparatus occupies more space when stored
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection tray is designed as a dynamic component that can swing between extended and retracted positions, and extend/retract along guides. This dynamic configuration allows the tray to provide large surface area when needed for media placement, while returning to a compact configuration for space-efficient storage when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection tray can be nested within or alongside the media tray during the retraction process. The tray structure incorporates nested guides and positioning mechanisms that allow compact arrangement when retracted, minimizing the overall space occupied by the apparatus while maintaining full functionality when extended.
3Device complexity
If the ejection tray swings continuously from deployed to stored position, then the mechanism is simpler, but the force required increases and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The swinging mechanism incorporates a stopper that divides the swinging motion into two segments: deployment from stored to deployed position, and retraction from deployed to stored position. This segmentation allows the system to control the timing and force characteristics of each phase, reducing peak forces that would otherwise occur in continuous motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper acts as an intermediary element in the swinging mechanism. It temporarily halts the tray at the midway position, serving as a mediator that breaks the continuous motion into controlled phases. This intermediary stop allows the conveyor to transfer media before retraction completes, reducing the force required in the final retraction phase.
4Ease of operation
If a powerful motor is used to retract the ejection tray with media, then retraction is achieved, but power consumption increases and motor size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor performs a preliminary media transfer operation before the motor-driven retraction begins. By transferring media off the ejection tray first, the load on the tray is reduced, which directly reduces the power required by the motor to perform retraction. This preliminary action eliminates the need for an oversized high-power motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The retraction operation is segmented into phases: media transfer by conveyor, then motor-driven tray retraction. This segmentation allows the motor to operate at lower power levels during retraction since the media load has already been reduced by the preliminary conveyor operation, resulting in lower overall energy consumption.
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
The solution enables efficient storage and deployment of ejection trays, reducing the apparatus size and motor requirements, while effectively supporting media on the tray to prevent slipping or falling, thus enhancing usability and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first mechanism including a gear, and a second mechanism including a gear. The first mechanism swings the ejection tray from a deployed position where the ejection tray is deployed to a stored position where the ejection tray is stored in the apparatus body
Implementation Method 2
The first mechanism swings the ejection tray... and stops swinging of the ejection tray at a midway position between the deployed position and the stored position. The second mechanism retracts the ejection tray when the swinging of the ejection tray is stopped.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium conveying apparatus includes an apparatus body in which a conveying path is formed, a media tray supported by the apparatus body, an ejection tray supported by the apparatus body, a conveyor to convey a medium placed on the media tray along the conveying path and place the medium on the ejection tray, a first mechanism including a gear, and a second mechanism including a gear. The first mechanism swings the ejection tray from a deployed position where the ejection tray is deployed to a stored position where the ejection tray is stored in the apparatus body, and stops swinging of the ejection tray at a midway position between the deployed position and the stored position. The second mechanism retracts the ejection tray when the swinging of the ejection tray is stopped.