Medium Discharging Device with Aligner and Restrictor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium processing devices face issues with aligning and discharging multiple media without disturbing the end portions when using a roller pair, leading to misalignment and inefficiencies in processing and handling.
Innovation Solution
A medium discharging device with a supporter that moves between a retreat and advance position, equipped with an aligner to align the medium's end portion and a restrictor that adjusts its movement to prevent disturbance, ensuring proper alignment and smooth discharge from a first tray to a second tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a roller pair is used to discharge a media bundle from the first tray to the second tray, then the discharge function is achieved, but the end portions of the aligned media are disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
A supporter is introduced as an intermediary component between the roller pair and the media bundle. The supporter receives the media bundle from the roller pair and transports it to the second tray, preventing the roller pair from directly contacting and disturbing the aligned end portions of the media. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by decoupling the discharge function from the alignment maintenance requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge process is segmented into distinct stages: (1) The roller pair transfers the media bundle to the supporter at a specific transfer position, (2) The supporter independently transports the media bundle to the second tray. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function without interfering with the alignment of the media end portions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the supporter advances to support the medium bundle, then the alignment is maintained, but the restrictor mechanism adds complexity to the system
Solution Approach 1:
The aligner and restrictor are combined into a single integrated mechanism mounted on the supporter. The aligner aligns the end portions of the media while the restrictor simultaneously prevents upstream movement, achieving both functions through a unified structure rather than separate independent mechanisms. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictor is designed to be movable between a restriction position and a non-restriction position. During the advance movement of the supporter, the restrictor is positioned to prevent upstream movement of the media. This dynamic positioning allows the restrictor to perform its function only when needed, simplifying the mechanism compared to a permanently engaged restrictor system.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium discharging device includes a first tray, a second tray receiving a medium from the first tray, a supporter which is configured to be displaced from a retreat position in the first tray and an advance position above the second tray and which supports the medium, an aligner which is provided in the supporter and that aligns a first end portion which is an upstream end portion in a discharge direction of the medium supported by the supporter, to be displaced together with the supporter, and a restrictor configured to be displaced between a restriction position where an upstream movement of the first end portion of the medium in a position of the aligner in the discharge direction and a non-restriction position where the movement is not restricted, when the supporter is in the advance position.