Compact Media Stacker with D-Shape Roller and Movable Drawer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional media stackers for printers occupy additional space and hinder user access to printers, requiring removal or disassembly for tasks like media loading and jam resolution, due to their large footprint and obstructive placement.
Innovation Solution
A compact media stacker design that fits within the footprint of a printer, utilizing a D-shape roller and idle rollers to guide and stack printed media sheets without extending beyond the printer's dimensions, allowing for efficient media handling and reduced user interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a media stacker is placed externally to receive printed media sheets, then media handling capability is improved, but the device footprint increases and user access to the printer is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The media stacker is merged with the printer by positioning it within the printer's footprint, specifically utilizing the space between the rear wall and the print head assembly. This integration allows the media stacker to receive and stack printed media sheets without requiring external placement, thereby maintaining compact overall dimensions while preserving media handling capability
Solution Approach 2:
The media stacker utilizes the vertical dimension and the depth space within the printer footprint rather than extending the horizontal footprint. By placing the media stacker in the space between the rear wall and the print head, and allowing it to extend toward the front, the design efficiently uses three-dimensional space within the existing footprint boundaries
2Quantity of substance
If a media stacker with large footprint is used, then media stacking capacity is improved, but user access to the printer for tasks like media loading and jam resolution is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The media stacker incorporates a movable drawer assembly that can be extended and retracted. The drawer is movable along guides between a retracted position (when no media is stacked) and an extended position (when media sheets are stacked). This dynamic capability allows the media stacking capacity to increase when needed while maintaining ease of user access to the printer when the drawer is retracted
Solution Approach 2:
The media stacker is segmented into a fixed housing portion and a movable drawer assembly. The fixed portion remains stationary within the printer footprint, while the drawer assembly can be extended outward to provide access to stacked media. This segmentation allows the system to provide both adequate stacking capacity and user accessibility at different times
3Productivity
If the media stacker extends beyond the printer footprint, then media reception capability is improved, but space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to extend only when media sheets are present and to be retracted when empty. This dynamic configuration enables the media reception capability to be enhanced when needed while minimizing the occupied volume during normal printer operation and maintenance tasks
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a media stacker includes a drawer defining a chamber, and a plurality of moving elements to engage media sheets of different sizes as the media sheets are output from a system. The plurality of moving elements are to slide the media sheets to a target position in the drawer, and the plurality of moving elements are to disengage from the media sheets once the media sheets have reached the target position. A plurality of retaining elements are to engage the media sheets of the different sizes as the media sheets slide into the drawer.