Feed Tray Roll Support for Compact Sheet Unrolling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding cassettes for image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently replacing roll sheets due to complex adjustments and potential size increases in the horizontal direction, which complicates the unrolling process.
Innovation Solution
A feed tray design with support portions that contact the outer peripheral surface of the roll body at two shifted upper-lower positions, allowing for increased circumferential support distance without increasing horizontal separation distance, and a path guiding mechanism to facilitate smooth unrolling of the sheet medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the separation distance between the two support positions in the horizontal direction is increased to facilitate unrolling of the sheet-shaped medium, then the ease of operation is improved, but the size of the feed tray in the horizontal direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by shifting the two support positions from being arranged horizontally to being arranged in the vertical direction. Specifically, the first support position is positioned higher than the second support position in the vertical direction, allowing the sheet-shaped medium to unroll smoothly between these vertically separated positions without requiring increased horizontal separation distance. This resolves the contradiction by achieving easy unrolling operation while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint of the feed tray.
2Reliability
If the distance required for the leading end of the sheet-shaped medium to reach the other support position is increased to prevent jamming, then the reliability is improved, but the length of the path in the horizontal direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the vertical dimension to create the necessary path length for the sheet-shaped medium. The leading end of the sheet-shaped medium travels from the first support position (higher) to the second support position (lower) in the vertical direction, providing sufficient distance to prevent jamming without extending the horizontal length of the path. This allows reliable operation while maintaining a compact horizontal path length.
3Device complexity
If the roll body is supported at two support positions at the same height level to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to potential jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the two support positions at different vertical heights rather than at the same height level. The first support position is positioned higher than the second support position in the vertical direction, creating an asymmetric arrangement that facilitates smooth unrolling of the sheet-shaped medium from the roll body while maintaining relatively simple structural support. This asymmetric positioning prevents jamming by ensuring the sheet medium clears the first support position before reaching the second support position.
Data Source
AI summary
A feed tray configured to accommodate a roll, in which a sheet-shaped medium is rolled in a roll shape, the feed tray includes: a support portion configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the roll at two support positions with a lower end of the roll being interposed therebetween and to rotatably support the roll; and a path having an inlet disposed between the two support positions and configured to guide the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll. The two support positions are shifted from each other in an upper-lower direction.