Image Recording Device Tray Pivoting for Sheet Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording devices face issues with sheet discharging failures due to increased height requirements for additional mechanisms, leading to sheets hanging or bending before reaching the tray, which compromises the compactness and efficiency of the device.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a tray unit with a first, second, and third tray, where the second tray can pivot between positions to adjust the sheet feeding and discharging path, ensuring proper alignment and preventing sheet bending or hanging by overlapping with the first and third trays when necessary, and utilizing a linking mechanism with a stopper to control the pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional mechanisms or boards are provided around the recording unit to perform particular functions, then the functionality of the image recording device is improved, but the height of the housing increases, causing the discharging unit to be relocated at an upper position farther from the second tray, which results in sheet discharging failure
Solution Approach 1:
The second tray is configured to move in the vertical direction (height dimension) between a first position and a second position, allowing it to adjust its height relative to the discharging unit. This vertical movement enables the tray to compensate for increased housing height caused by additional mechanisms, maintaining proper sheet discharge alignment without sacrificing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The second tray is made movable between different positions (first position for feeding, second position for receiving discharged sheets), allowing the system to dynamically adjust the tray location based on operational requirements. This dynamic positioning ensures that the discharging unit remains properly aligned with the tray surface regardless of additional height from other components.
2Length of stationary object
If the distance between the discharging unit and the sheet receiving surface of the second tray increases, then the housing height can be increased to accommodate additional mechanisms, but the discharged sheet may hang from the discharging unit or the leading edge may be bent or folded, resulting in sheet discharging failure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing horizontal distance (which would cause sheet hanging and bending), the invention uses vertical movement of the second tray to adjust the relative position between the discharging unit and tray surface. This vertical adjustment maintains optimal discharge distance while allowing housing height to increase for additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The second tray is configured to move vertically between positions, dynamically adjusting the discharge path length. When the tray is in the second position, it moves closer to the discharging unit, ensuring proper sheet discharge even when the housing height is increased to accommodate additional components.
3Reliability
If the second tray is positioned to receive discharged sheets, then sheet discharging can be achieved, but the sheet feeder cannot feed sheets from the second tray simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The second tray is configured to move between a first position (for feeding) and a second position (for receiving discharged sheets). This dynamic positioning allows the same tray to serve different functions at different times, enabling both sheet feeding and discharging capabilities without requiring separate trays for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The second tray is designed to perform multiple functions: it can feed sheets to the recording unit when in the first position, and receive discharged sheets when in the second position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate feeding and receiving trays, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining both capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording device includes a tray unit, a sheet feeder disposed above the tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the sheet feeder, and a unit for discharging the sheet having as image recorded thereon. The tray unit includes a first tray for holding thereon a first sheet, a second tray disposed above the first tray to hold thereon a second sheet, and a third tray disposed above the first tray. The second tray selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the second tray is in the first position, the sheet feeder feeds the second sheet from the second tray, and the third tray receives the second sheet discharged from the discharging unit. When the second tray is in the second position, the sheet feeder feeds the first sheet from the first tray, and the first tray, the second tray, and the third tray overlap one another vertically.