Feed Tray Path Member for Roll Paper Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paper feeding devices struggle to guide roll paper with a curled tip to the conveyance rollers without increasing the device's complexity and size.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a feed tray with a first accommodation portion for roll paper and a second for cut paper, featuring a path member with a partition that guides the roll paper unrolled from the roll body, preventing curling and eliminating the need for additional rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional rollers or guiding mechanisms are added to guide the curled tip of roll paper to the feed roller, then the guidance reliability is improved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a path member that creates a three-dimensional introduction path for the roll paper. The path member includes a guiding surface that directs the curled tip of the roll paper along a specific trajectory to the feed roller, utilizing spatial arrangement rather than additional mechanical components. This dimensional approach guides the paper through the space between existing components without adding rollers or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The path member acts as an intermediary element between the roll paper and the feed roller. It provides a guiding surface that mediates the interaction between the curled paper tip and the feeding mechanism, enabling reliable guidance through a simple structural component rather than complex mechanical guidance systems.
2Reliability
If additional rollers or guiding mechanisms are added to guide the curled tip of roll paper, then the guidance reliability is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The path member utilizes the vertical and lateral dimensions to create an introduction path that guides the roll paper without expanding the horizontal footprint of the device. By arranging the guiding surface in three-dimensional space, the patent achieves reliable paper guidance while maintaining a compact device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The path member serves multiple functions: it guides the curled tip of the roll paper, supports the paper during feeding, and integrates with the existing feed tray structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate guiding components, thereby preventing device size increase while maintaining guidance reliability.
3Device complexity
If a simple structure is used without additional guiding components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to guide curled roll paper reliably deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The path member is divided into functional segments: a guiding surface for directing the curled tip, a support portion for holding the paper, and an integration interface with the feed tray. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure simple and avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a feed tray accommodating a roll body, a first sheet-shaped medium being rolled in a roll shape as the roll body; and a feed roller configured to apply a conveying force to the first sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll body and to feed the first sheet-shaped medium from the feed tray. The feed tray includes: a first accommodation portion accommodating the roll body; a second accommodation portion accommodating a plurality of second sheet-shaped media stacked in a first direction; and a path member located between the first accommodation portion and the feed roller. The path member includes a partition member partitioning the second sheet-shaped medium accommodated in the second accommodation portion and the first sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll body in the first direction.