Printer Stacking Unit with Protrusions for Large Sheet Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses, such as copying machines and printers, face challenges in managing large-size sheets of paper without increasing the overall size of the device, as they require larger stacking surfaces to accommodate these sheets, leading to increased dimensions and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a stacking unit with a planar portion and protruding or recessed portions on the stacking surface, along with a pressing member that deforms and stacks large-size sheets vertically, preventing an increase in the device's size by optimizing the use of space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the stacking surface portion is enlarged to accommodate large-size sheets of paper, then the paper handling capability is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressing member that applies vertical pressure to deform sheets stacked on the stacking surface portion, causing them to bend along protruding portions. This vertical deformation allows large-size sheets to be accommodated in a compact horizontal footprint, resolving the contradiction between paper handling capability and apparatus size by utilizing the vertical dimension for sheet compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the stacked sheets by applying pressure through the pressing member, transforming them from a flat, extended state to a compressed, bent state. This parameter change in sheet configuration allows the stacking surface to accommodate large sheets without requiring proportional increases in apparatus dimensions.
2Area of stationary object
If a folded auxiliary tray is rotated or raised to increase stacking surface area, then the surface area is improved, but the required surface area outside the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotatable pressing member that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. By rotating the pressing member to different angular positions, the system can accommodate sheets of varying sizes and orientations without requiring external expansion of the apparatus, thus maintaining a compact footprint while providing dynamic stacking surface area adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the pressing member's rotational functionality with the stacking surface, combining multiple functions (pressing, rotating, and stacking) into a single integrated mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate auxiliary trays or external expansion mechanisms, reducing the required surface area outside the apparatus.
3Quantity of substance
If large-size sheets are stacked on the stacking surface portion, then the paper capacity is improved, but the apparatus dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes curved or bent sheet configurations created by the pressing member's protruding portions. Sheets are deformed into curved shapes that conform to the pressing member's geometry, allowing them to be stacked more compactly vertically without increasing the horizontal apparatus dimensions, thus maintaining compact size while increasing paper capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested arrangement where pressed and bent sheets are stacked within the compact apparatus boundaries. The pressing member enables sheets to be nested vertically through deformation, allowing multiple large-size sheets to be contained within a small horizontal footprint, effectively increasing paper capacity without expanding apparatus dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming unit disposed inside the housing, a discharging portion, a stacking unit and a pressing member. The discharging portion is configured to discharge a sheet medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. The stacking unit is configured to stack the sheet medium discharged from the discharging portion. The stacking unit includes a stacking surface portion on which the sheet medium is stacked. The stacking surface portion includes a planar portion formed flat and a protruding portion configured to protrude upwardly from the planar portion. The pressing member is disposed in contact with an upper surface of the sheet medium stacked on the stacking surface portion.