Printer Tray Assisting Support Member Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in supporting large-sized sheets due to limited tray extension, leading to insufficient support area and increased apparatus size when trying to accommodate larger sheets.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rotatable assisting support member that switches between housed and extended states, allowing for wider medium support when the open-and-close member is opened, and a guiding member that moves the medium supporting member to a higher position, reducing the gap with the assisting support member and enabling larger sheet support without increasing the apparatus size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the size of the sheet feeder tray is increased to support large-sized sheets, then the support area for sheets is improved, but the size of the image forming apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assisting support member is configured to rotate between a retracted position (first state) and an extended position (second state), transforming the static tray structure into a dynamic one that can adapt its support area based on operational needs without permanently increasing apparatus footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The assisting support member extends the support area in the width direction by rotating into the working position, utilizing spatial transformation to increase functional area without proportionally increasing the housing volume in all dimensions
2Area of moving object
If the range of slide extension of the tray body is increased to support large-sized sheets, then the support area is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray system is divided into the tray body and the assisting support member, which can independently rotate into position. This segmentation allows the support area to be extended without requiring the entire tray structure to slide further, simplifying the overall extension mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The assisting support member uses rotational movement instead of linear sliding to extend the support area, providing a simpler mechanical action that reduces the complexity of extension mechanisms while achieving the same functional goal
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a printer body, a hopper, an open-and-close cover, a paper support, and a support holder. The hopper pushes paper up while supporting the paper. The open-and-close cover is able to be opened from and closed toward the printer body. The paper support is provided in such a way as to be able to be housed inside and drawn away from the open-and-close cover, and is configured to support the paper by being drawn out. The support holder supports the paper, together with the hopper and the paper support. The support holder switches between an upright orientation for being housed into the printer body and a tilted orientation for supporting the paper together with the hopper and the paper support by the opening and closing of the open-and-close cover.