Retractable Support Surface for Image Reading Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image reading apparatuses suffer from poor visibility and operability issues when discharging small-sized documents due to the placement of the discharge portion below the document tray, and existing solutions fail to adequately regulate documents downstream of the second support surface, leading to oblique passing and reading failures.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus incorporates a first and second support surface with movable regulating units that retract to improve visibility and regulate document positioning, ensuring proper alignment and preventing oblique passing by positioning the second regulating unit on the downstream support portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the discharge portion is provided below the document tray, then the structure is compact, but the visibility of discharged documents is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The second support surface is made movable in the widthwise direction, allowing it to be retracted from the discharge portion area. This dynamic configuration enables the support surface to move between a state that provides structural support and a state that improves visibility of discharged documents, resolving the contradiction between compact structure and document visibility.
2Ease of operation
If the second support surface is made movable to improve visibility, then document visibility is improved, but the regulating unit on the second support surface fails to regulate documents downstream, causing oblique passing
Solution Approach 1:
The second regulating unit is extended in the feeding direction (downstream) beyond the movable second support surface. This dimensional extension ensures that the regulating function continues downstream even when the support surface is retracted, maintaining document alignment reliability while preserving the visibility improvement.
3Device complexity
If the second regulating unit is positioned only on the second support surface, then the structure is simple, but oblique passing occurs during document feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The second regulating unit is designed to move together with the movable second support surface while extending downstream. This dynamic positioning ensures that the regulating function is maintained in the downstream area regardless of the support surface position, preventing oblique passing while maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a stacking portion, a feeding unit, a reading unit, and a discharge portion provided below the stacking portion. The feeding unit feeds a sheet stacked on the stacking portion in a feeding direction. The reading unit reads an image on the fed sheet and the discharge portion discharges the read sheet. The stacking portion includes first and second support surfaces that support the sheet and first and second regulating units to regulate a position of the sheet in a widthwise direction using two opposing ends of the sheet. The second support surface is retractable from a predetermined section above the discharge portion. The first support surface includes a downstream support portion that supports the sheet on a downstream side of the predetermined section in the feeding direction. A part of the second regulating surface is positioned on the downstream support portion.