Printer Tray Pivot Support for Overturning Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming devices with pull-out trays are prone to overturning due to the uneven load distribution when the tray is extended, compromising maintenance accessibility and device stability.
Innovation Solution
The tray is designed to pivot and be supported by a pivot support element, allowing it to be pulled out while maintaining balance, with parts of the tray supported by the device's main body and the installation surface, reducing the likelihood of overturning and enhancing stability during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tray is designed to be pulled out in cantilever fashion above a housing element, then accessibility to housed items is improved, but device stability deteriorates due to overturning risk
Solution Approach 1:
A support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the tray and the housing element. This support element extends from the housing element to support the tray at a position away from the housing element, thereby mediating the load transfer and preventing direct cantilever loading on the device main body that would cause overturning.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element is positioned at a location spatially separated from both the housing element and the tray's center of gravity. By distributing support across different spatial dimensions rather than concentrating it at a single point, the system achieves better balance and reduced overturning moment while maintaining tray accessibility.
2Ease of repair
If the tray is pulled out completely, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but load concentration on the device main body increases causing overturning
Solution Approach 1:
The support element serves as a mediator that bears the tray's weight and transfers it to the housing element, rather than allowing the entire load to act on the device main body during pull-out. This intermediary support structure enables the tray to be fully accessible for maintenance while distributing the mechanical load.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element provides a counterbalancing force by positioning itself to offset the tray's weight distribution. This creates a more balanced load profile during tray extraction, reducing the net overturning force on the device main body while allowing complete tray accessibility for maintenance operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A color laser printer is configured with a tray being provided above the housing cassette which houses a recording medium. The tray holds developing units and is configured to be pulled out from device main body while leaving housing cassette inside device main body. Furthermore, a sliding support element capable of supporting protrusions of the tray is provided, such that a portion of the tray downstream of the protrusions can be supported on the installation surface when the tray is pulled out from device main body.