Image-forming device lifting piece sheet visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses with in-body discharge spaces open on the downstream side and front surface side face challenges in visually recognizing and retrieving discharged sheets, especially when the number of sheets is small, due to lack of clear visibility and easy access.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lifting piece that protrudes upward from the discharge portion, inclined toward the downstream side and front surface, with a loading surface that lifts and bends the corner of the sheet, and a dark-colored rear surface to enhance contrast and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If sheets are discharged on a flat discharge portion, then the structure is simple, but it becomes difficult to visually recognize the sheets when the number of sheets is small
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting piece raises the corner portion of the discharged sheet from the flat discharge portion, creating a vertical dimension change. This allows the sheet corner to protrude upward, making it visually recognizable from the front surface side even when only a few sheets are discharged, thus resolving the visibility issue without complicating the overall discharge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting piece is designed with a rear surface formed in a dark color that contrasts with the white sheet. This color contrast enhances the visibility of the sheet corner that is lifted by the loading surface, making it easier to detect the discharged sheets from the front surface side.
2Device complexity
If sheets are discharged on a flat discharge portion, then the structure is simple, but it becomes difficult to take out the sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting piece creates a vertical protrusion of the sheet corner from the flat discharge portion. This dimensional change provides a physical handle or grip point that extends upward, making it mechanically easier to grasp and retrieve the sheets from the discharge portion.
3Ease of operation
If the discharge portion is open on the front surface side, then sheets can be easily accessed, but the sheets are not visually recognizable when discharged in small quantities
Solution Approach 1:
By raising the sheet corner vertically with the lifting piece, the invention adds a visual indicator dimension that complements the front surface opening. The protruding corner becomes visible from the front surface side, enhancing detection without compromising the accessibility provided by the open discharge space.
Solution Approach 2:
The dark-colored rear surface of the lifting piece creates a strong visual contrast with the white sheet, making the lifted corner highly visible from the front surface side. This color contrast directly addresses the visibility issue while maintaining the open front surface design for easy access.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided that is capable of facilitating visual recognition, from a front surface side and a lateral side of an apparatus body, of a sheet discharged on a discharge portion. An image forming apparatus (100) described herein is provided with a discharge port (9) that is provided in an apparatus body (1), an in-body discharge space (4) that is provided on a downstream side of the discharge port (9) in a discharge direction and is open on a downstream side in the discharge direction and on a front surface side of the apparatus body (1), and a discharge portion (10) that is provided in the in-body discharge space (4). At a part of the discharge portion (10) on the downstream side in the discharge direction and on the front surface side, a lifting piece (11) is provided that protrudes upward beyond an upper surface (10a) of the discharge portion (10) and lifts a corner portion of a sheet (P). The lifting piece (11) has a loading surface (11a) that is inclined upward toward the downstream side in the discharge direction and the front surface side and on which the sheet (P) is loaded, and a rear surface (11b) that is disposed on an opposite side to the loading surface (11a), and the rear surface (11b) is formed in a dark color.