Removable Print Media Tray for Jam Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers often face cumbersome and difficult manual clearing of jams due to multiple travel paths for print media, making it hard to access and resolve jams within the printer.
Innovation Solution
A print media roller assembly with a track assembly that allows easy access to the print media travel path by using a tray with roller support members and ramped surfaces, enabling the tray to be easily removed and reinserted, thereby simplifying the process of clearing jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple receptacles and loading features are provided for print media, then print media handling capability is improved, but access difficulty for clearing jams increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printer is divided into modular components including removable trays (front serviceable tray, rear serviceable tray) and a media handling assembly that can be accessed independently. Each tray can be removed separately to access specific travel paths, allowing targeted jam clearing without disassembling the entire printer.
Solution Approach 2:
The trays and media handling components are designed to be completely removable from the printer housing. This extraction allows direct access to the print media travel paths and rollers, enabling users to clear jams by manually removing jammed media from the exposed pathways without complex disassembly procedures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple travel paths are created for print media, then print media routing flexibility is improved, but jam clearing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple travel paths are segmented into distinct routes served by different trays (front serviceable tray for first travel path, rear serviceable tray for second travel path). This segmentation allows users to isolate and clear jams in one path without affecting or needing to access other paths, reducing overall clearing complexity despite multiple routes existing.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable trays act as intermediaries that provide access points to the internal travel paths. By removing the tray, users gain direct visual and physical access to the rollers and media path, making it easier to locate and clear jams compared to trying to access hidden internal components through fixed panels.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed media handling components are used, then structural stability is improved, but access ease for maintenance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The media handling components transition from a fixed state during operation to a removable state during maintenance. The trays are designed with dynamic characteristics allowing them to be easily inserted and removed while maintaining stable operation when in place. This dynamic design enables structural stability during printing while providing easy access for clearing jams and maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer including a printer housing further including a cavity and a print media tray arranged to fit within the cavity. The print media tray further comprises a plurality of walls at least partially defining a receptacle a first roller support member disposed on one of the walls, outside of the receptacle; and a first roller disposed on the first roller support member