Manual Feed Tray Extension for Long Sheet Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems face challenges in supporting and conveying long sheets exceeding 30 inches in length, leading to issues such as creasing and scratching due to protruding trailing edges, and limitations in the number of sheets that can be set on manual feed trays.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system with a sheet supporting apparatus that includes a sheet placement platform with a mounting portion and support legs, allowing for the secure support of long sheets by extending the manual sheet feed tray and enabling the support of up to 250 sheets without the need for winding the trailing edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the length of a manual sheet feed tray is extended by mounting an extension member, then the sheet support length is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet supporting apparatus is divided into multiple functional components: a mounting portion that attaches to the manual sheet feed tray, a sheet supporting portion that provides extended support surface, and support legs that stabilize the structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs extend the structure vertically downward to the floor surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to provide stability and support for the extended sheet carrying surface. This dimensional extension resolves the contradiction by adding support length without significantly increasing horizontal device complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a second holding portion is disposed above the manual sheet feed tray to provide distributed support, then the sheet stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stability function is segmented between the mounting portion (providing attachment and initial support) and the support legs (providing distributed support to the floor surface). This segmentation allows the system to achieve distributed support without requiring a complex multi-component structure above the tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs act as intermediaries between the manual sheet feed tray and the floor surface, transferring and distributing the weight and stress of long sheets to the stable floor base. This intermediary structure provides stability without adding complexity to the tray assembly itself.
3Quantity of substance
If the manual sheet feed tray is extended to support long sheets, then the sheet support capacity is improved, but the number of sheets that can be set is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs are designed to be movable or adjustable, allowing the sheet supporting portion to adapt to different sheet lengths and quantities. This dynamic capability enables the system to support a greater number of long sheets without requiring a fixed, overly complex extended tray structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical dimension is utilized through the support legs to provide additional support capacity. By extending support downward to the floor rather than only horizontally along the tray, the system can accommodate more sheets without proportionally increasing the horizontal tray length, thus improving sheet capacity without excessive length increase.
4Ease of operation
If trailing edges of sheets protrude from the trays, then the sheet feeding capability is improved, but the sheet damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended sheet supporting portion and support legs provide preliminary support for the trailing edges of long sheets before they can protrude excessively from the tray. This preliminary support structure prevents the sheets from sagging, creasing, or scratching by maintaining them in a supported state throughout the feeding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs serve as intermediaries that carry and protect the trailing edges of sheets, isolating them from harmful conditions such as sagging and surface damage. This intermediary support structure allows sheets to be fed effectively while preventing the harmful effects of protrusion.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a first sheet feeding apparatus, a second sheet feeding apparatus disposed above the first sheet feeding apparatus and including a tray and a sheet feeding unit, and a sheet supporting apparatus. The sheet supporting apparatus includes a mounting portion configured to be mounted to a mounted portion disposed in the second sheet feeding apparatus, a sheet supporting portion configured to support an upstream side in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet supported on the tray in a state in which the mounting portion is mounted to the mounted portion, and a first support leg configured to support the sheet supporting portion by coming into contact with a floor surface, on which the image forming apparatus is supported, in the state in which the mounting portion is mounted to the mounted portion.