Pivoting Document Output Tray Prevents Ejection Collision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Document ejecting performance is deteriorated when the document output tray is in an upright position due to collision with the edge of a notch or opening, leading to bending or misfeeding of documents in existing document feeding devices.
Innovation Solution
A document feeding device with a pivoting output tray that includes a reference tray and a pivoting tray, where the pivot shaft is positioned above the upstream end of the pivoting tray's stacking surface, allowing the trays to pivot and form a gap when retracted, preventing document collision and maintaining smooth ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the document output tray is placed in an upright position to avoid hampering document loading, then the space utilization is improved, but the document ejecting performance deteriorates due to collision with the tray edge
Solution Approach 1:
The document output tray is divided into two separate trays: a fixed reference tray and a movable pivoting tray. The reference tray remains stationary to provide stable document ejection surface, while the pivoting tray can be retracted upright to avoid obstructing document loading. This segmentation allows both the upright position for loading access and the flat position for document stacking to coexist without collision.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting tray is designed to be dynamically adjustable between a flat document stacking position and an upright retracted position. This dynamic positioning allows the tray to adapt to different operational states: flat during document ejection to maintain performance, and upright during document loading to improve accessibility. The pivot mechanism enables smooth transition between these states.
2Ease of operation
If a notch or opening is formed in the document output tray to prevent collision, then the document loading accessibility is improved, but the document ejecting performance deteriorates due to document bending at the notch edge
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming a notch in a single tray, the system segments the output tray into two separate trays. The reference tray provides a continuous, smooth surface without notches, ensuring high document ejection quality. The pivoting tray handles the accessibility function when retracted, eliminating the need for notches that would compromise document integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference tray acts as an intermediary element between the document ejection path and the pivoting tray. It provides a stable, continuous surface that mediates the document flow, preventing direct contact with the pivoting tray's edge or any notches, thereby maintaining document ejection quality while still allowing accessibility improvements.
Data Source
AI summary
A document feeding device comprises a document input tray, a document output tray placed above the document input tray, and a feeding mechanism provided for a feeding path (connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position) to feed each document along the feeding path. The document output tray includes a reference tray and a pivoting tray (on the downstream side of the reference tray) pivotable with respect to the reference tray around a pivot shaft on the upstream side of the pivoting tray. The pivoting of the pivoting tray is restricted at a retracted position by a pivot restricting part when the pivoting tray has pivoted from a document stacking position to the retracted position. The pivot shaft is situated above an upstream end of a stacking surface of the pivoting tray when the pivoting tray is placed at the document stacking position.