Image Reading Unit Openable Tray for Hard Media Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-reading units lack an efficient mechanism to convey hard media like credit cards and do not effectively minimize footprint while maintaining usability, especially when handling documents of varying sizes.
Innovation Solution
The image-reading unit incorporates an openable second original document tray with a slot that faces the feeding port when closed, allowing for precise and safe conveyance of hard documents without bending, and includes movable guides and hinges to align and support documents, minimizing footprint and enhancing usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated medium conveying slot and conveying path are employed to convey hard media like credit cards, then the conveyance of hard documents is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The original document conveyor is designed to handle both soft documents (paper) and hard media (credit cards, ID cards) using the same conveying mechanism. The tray structure and conveying path are universally applicable to different document types, eliminating the need for dedicated conveying mechanisms for hard media while maintaining reliable conveyance for both document types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an openable original document tray is disposed at the dedicated medium conveying slot to stack multiple cards or place large documents, then the adaptability is improved, but the footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The original document tray is designed to be openable and movable, allowing it to adapt its configuration based on the document being handled. The tray can be opened to accommodate large documents or stacked cards, and closed when not in use, dynamically adjusting the device's footprint and functionality as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The openable tray structure allows smaller components to be nested within larger ones when not in use. The tray can be folded or retracted into the device body, minimizing the overall footprint while maintaining the capability to handle various document sizes when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the second original document tray has a slot facing the feeding port when closed to feed documents through the slot, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slot in the second original document tray is positioned to automatically align with the feeding port when the tray is closed, without requiring manual adjustment. The mechanical design ensures self-alignment through the natural closing motion of the tray, allowing users to simply place documents in the slot and the system handles the rest, improving ease of operation while managing manufacturing precision through self-aligning features.
Data Source
AI summary
An image-reading unit includes an original document conveyor that includes a first original document tray to hold an original document to be read, a first original document feeding port to feed the original document placed on the first original document tray, and an original document conveying path to convey the original document from the first original document feeding port to an original document discharging port. The original document conveyor further includes an openable second original document tray attached near an intermediate portion of the original document conveying path to hold an original document when opened, and a second original document feeding port to feed the original document on the second original document tray. The image-reading unit further includes an image reader to read an image of the original document being conveyed along the original document conveying path.