Operation Panel Layout for Compact Printers With Stable Sheet Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in reconciling the increasing size of operation units with the need for accessible sheet stacking, leading to reduced sheet stacking performance and difficulty in miniaturizing the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed with an operation device that overlaps with the stacking area, featuring a first area overlapping and a second area not overlapping with the stacking area, with the first area's bottom surface higher in the vertical direction, and incorporates an inclined surface to guide sheet discharge without interfering with stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operation unit is made larger to display more information and accommodate touch panels, then user operability is improved, but the apparatus size increases and sheet stacking performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The operation device is positioned to overlap with the stacking area when viewed from above, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the conflict between operation unit size and sheet stacking space. The operation device extends in the width direction beyond the stacking area, allowing it to occupy the same horizontal footprint while maintaining adequate sheet stacking capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation device has different height characteristics in different areas: a first area that overlaps with the stacking area and a second area that does not overlap, with the bottom surface height being higher in the first area. This local variation in height allows the operation device to coexist with the sheet stacking function in the overlapping region while providing adequate space for operations in the non-overlapping region.
2Volume of moving object
If the operation unit is positioned to overlap with the stacking area, then apparatus size is reduced, but sheet stacking performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The operation device has different height characteristics in different areas: a first area that overlaps with the stacking area and a second area that does not overlap, with the bottom surface height being higher in the first area. This local variation in height allows the operation device to coexist with the sheet stacking function in the overlapping region while providing adequate space for operations in the non-overlapping region.
3Volume of moving object
If the operation unit is made compact to miniaturize the apparatus, then apparatus size is reduced, but user operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The operation device is positioned to overlap with the stacking area when viewed from above, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the conflict between operation unit size and sheet stacking space. The operation device extends in the width direction beyond the stacking area, allowing it to occupy the same horizontal footprint while maintaining adequate sheet stacking capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image former configured to form an image on a sheet, a discharge tray with a stacking area where the sheet on which the image has been formed is to be stacked, and an operation device, wherein a portion of the operation device overlaps with the stacking area when the image forming apparatus is viewed from above in a vertical direction; and wherein the operation device has a first area which overlaps with the stacking area and a second area which does not overlap with the stacking area, and a height of a bottom surface of the operation device in the vertical direction is higher in the first area than in the second area.