Manual Feed Tray Positioning Across Dual Media Transport Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transport apparatuses with multiple transport paths risk increasing in size due to integral mount portions for media, complicating their design and usability.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport apparatus with a mount portion that can be accommodated in the apparatus main body in a non-use state and moved in the height direction, allowing switching between positions in different transport paths, and incorporating a reversing portion that can be attached or detached to manage path usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mount portion is provided integrally with the apparatus main body for each transport path, then the medium transport apparatus can support multiple transport paths, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mount portion is divided into a movable mounting unit that can be independently positioned for different transport paths. This segmentation allows the same mount portion to serve multiple paths sequentially rather than requiring separate integral mount portions for each path, thereby reducing overall apparatus size while maintaining multi-path capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount portion is designed with movable and adjustable characteristics, allowing it to be repositioned between different transport paths as needed. This dynamic configuration enables a single mount portion to replace multiple static mount portions, reducing the apparatus footprint while preserving adaptability to multiple transport paths.
2Reliability
If a mount portion is provided integrally with the apparatus main body, then the medium can be mounted stably, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mount portion is designed as a universal component that can be used across multiple transport paths through repositioning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate integral mount portions for each path, reducing structural complexity while maintaining stable medium mounting capability through a standardized design.
3Area of stationary object
If the mount portion is made movable in the height direction, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A supporting portion is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the mount portion and the apparatus main body. This supporting portion facilitates the movement and positioning of the mount portion in the height direction, making the operation easier while enabling the compact configuration that reduces apparatus size.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transport portion includes a main body portion, a tray unit, and a support guide member. The main body portion includes a first manual feed path and a second manual feed path. The tray unit can be accommodated in the main body portion in a non-use state, and a medium is mounted thereon in a use state. The support guide member is movable in a Z-direction, and supports the tray unit such that a first position that the tray unit is positioned in the first manual feed path, a second position of being positioned in the second manual feed path, and a third position of being accommodated in the main body portion are switched.