Image Formation Apparatus Guide Protrusion for Discharge Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image formation apparatuses face challenges in reducing the size and maintaining operability while preventing damage to recording media during discharge, as the height of the discharge space between the image formation and reading units affects the bending and alignment of the recording medium, leading to potential bending and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a guide portion with a protrusion on the image reading unit's lower face to reduce bending of the recording medium's leading end by allowing it to fall into a cover member, which changes the recording medium's shape from bended to planar, thereby reducing the risk of damage and improving discharge alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the discharge space height is reduced to decrease apparatus size, then the overall apparatus size is reduced, but the recording medium leading end bends excessively and may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A guide portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the image formation unit and the discharge tray. This guide portion has a protrusion that extends into the discharge space, providing a surface for the leading end of the recording medium to contact and fall onto. This mediator allows the discharge space to be compact while preventing excessive bending and damage to the recording medium leading end.
2Volume of moving object
If the discharge space height is reduced to improve compactness, then the apparatus becomes more compact, but the recording medium resilience during discharge decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion with its protrusion is positioned in advance within the discharge space to prepare a controlled path for the recording medium leading end. By providing this predetermined guide structure, the recording medium is guided smoothly through the limited discharge space, preventing sudden bending and maintaining resilience even in a compact configuration.
3Manufacturing precision
If the protrusion portion is extended further into the discharge space to reduce bending, then the alignment improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion is integrated with the image reading unit, combining the functions of the reading unit and the discharge guide into a single structure. This multi-functional design provides the necessary alignment guidance without requiring separate complex guiding mechanisms, thus improving discharge alignment while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
This configuration enhances the resilience of the recording medium during discharge, preventing bending and improving its alignment onto the discharge tray, while reducing the overall size of the apparatus and maintaining operability.
Implementation Method 1
lead the leading end portion to free fall by reducing the bending of the leading end portion when the leading end portion goes into the protrusion portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation apparatus includes an image formation unit, an image reading unit, and a guide portion. The image formation unit discharges a recording medium on which an image is formed by an image forming portion into a recording medium discharge space by applying conveying force to the recording medium and bends the recording medium in a given shape preventing a leading end portion of the recording medium from free fall. The image reading unit reads a document image and is disposed above the image formation unit so that the recording medium discharge space is disposed between the image reading unit and the image formation unit. The guide portion has a protrusion portion protruding toward the recording medium discharge space from a lower face of the image reading unit and that lead the leading end portion to free fall by reducing the bending of the leading end portion.