Inverting Document Feeding Device Flap Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document feeding devices for double-sided reading are large in size due to the need for two separate document ejection trays or an exclusive switchback path, which increases horizontal and vertical dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A document feeding device with a document ejection tray featuring a flap portion that can switch between two ejection modes, allowing for alignment of page order without requiring multiple trays or an exclusive switchback path, utilizing a reversing mechanism to temporarily eject documents between the placing and ejection trays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If two separate document ejection trays are arranged to align page order during double-sided reading, then the page order alignment is achieved, but the device size in horizontal direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single document ejection tray is segmented into two functional regions: a fixed tray body for receiving documents and a movable flap portion that can be positioned in different locations. By moving the flap portion to different positions, the system achieves the functionality of multiple ejection trays while using a single physical tray structure, thereby reducing horizontal space requirements while maintaining proper page order alignment during double-sided reading
Solution Approach 2:
The flap portion of the document ejection tray is designed to be movable rather than fixed. It can be dynamically repositioned to different locations on the tray body depending on the reading mode (single-sided or double-sided) and document processing requirements. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to adapt its configuration to achieve proper page order alignment without requiring multiple separate trays, thus reducing the horizontal footprint of the device
2Stability of the object's composition
If an exclusive switchback path is provided below the document ejection tray to reverse documents, then the page order alignment is achieved, but the device size in height direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The space between the document placing tray and document ejection tray is utilized as a multi-functional area. It serves both as the working space for document feeding and scanning operations and as a temporary storage location for documents being reversed by the reversing mechanism. This eliminates the need for a separate exclusive switchback path below the ejection tray, thereby reducing the vertical height of the device while maintaining proper document reversal functionality for page order alignment
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the document reversal path vertically below the ejection tray (using the height dimension), the system utilizes the horizontal space between the placing tray and ejection tray. The reversing mechanism temporarily ejects documents horizontally into this intermediate space, performs reversal operations, and then returns documents to the ejection tray. This dimensional shift from vertical to horizontal space utilization reduces the overall height of the device while achieving the same document reversal function
3Adaptability or versatility
If a reversible flap portion is added to the document ejection tray to enable mode switching, then the page order alignment is achieved in both single-sided and double-sided reading, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flap portion is integrated as an integral part of the document ejection tray structure rather than being a separate mechanism. The flap is combined with the tray body to form a unified structure that can be dynamically reconfigured. This merging approach allows the system to achieve multiple ejection modes and proper page order alignment while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the flap uses the same structural materials and mounting mechanisms as the tray itself
Data Source
AI summary
A document feeding device includes a document placing tray, a document ejection tray disposed above the document placing tray, a feeding path, a first reversal path, a second reversal path, and a reversing mechanism. The document ejection tray has a flap portion capable of rocking up and down to provide a first ejection mode and a second ejection mode. The reversing mechanism is configured to temporarily eject part of a document to a space portion between the document placing tray and the document ejection tray.