Medium Conveyance With Front-Side Discharge Port for Wall-Side Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium conveyance devices face issues with increased installation area due to openable/closable paper output trays, leading to potential paper jams when discharged sheets collide with the installation wall, and lack of efficient discharge regions.
Innovation Solution
A medium conveyance device with a discharge port positioned at the front surface side relative to the U-turn path, allowing for a discharge region below the U-turn path, accessible from the side, and equipped with a guide unit and sensor for stable medium discharge and monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an openable/closable paper output tray is provided at the back surface, then the discharged sheet can be received, but the installation area in the depth direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port is repositioned from the traditional back surface location to a location at the front surface side relative to the U-turn path, utilizing the depth dimension differently. This allows the medium to be discharged into a discharge region formed by the back surface and the front surface side position, eliminating the need for an openable/closable tray while maintaining discharge functionality without increasing installation depth.
2Length of stationary object
If the paper output tray is omitted to reduce installation area, then the device can be disposed close to the wall surface, but the discharged sheet easily collides with the wall surface and a jam occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A discharge region is created as an intermediary space between the discharge port and the back surface. This discharge region, formed by the back surface and the front surface side position of the discharge port, serves as a buffer zone that receives the discharged medium before it can collide with the wall surface, preventing jams while maintaining close wall proximity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the discharge port is positioned at the back surface side, then the medium can be discharged, but the installation area increases when using an openable/closable tray
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the discharge port at the traditional back surface location, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the discharge port at the front surface side relative to the U-turn path. This inversion creates a discharge region that utilizes the depth dimension differently, allowing discharge functionality without requiring additional depth for an openable/closable tray structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium conveyance device has an exterior and includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a medium in a conveyance direction from a front surface side of the exterior, a straight path through which the medium is conveyed toward a back surface of the exterior, a U-turn path branched from the straight path and through which the medium is conveyed in a reversed manner, and a discharge port through which the medium is discharged from the straight path, and disposed at a back surface side of the exterior, in which the discharge port is positioned at a front surface side relative to a position of a back surface of the exterior corresponding to a region where the U-turn path is disposed.