Rotating Ejection Tray Structure for Mixed Media Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium ejection apparatuses struggle to efficiently stack and support various types and sizes of media, such as printing paper and cards, on the ejection tray without compromising the apparatus's size or structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
The ejection tray is designed with a first and second surface, each formed by a single member and featuring recessed and beam parts that extend in the medium ejection direction, allowing it to rotate and adapt to different media sizes, enhancing strength and reducing friction for smooth conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used to form the ejection tray surfaces, then adaptability to different media sizes is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection tray surface is segmented into multiple functional zones including recessed parts and beam parts, allowing different regions to serve different purposes such as media support, friction reduction, and structural reinforcement, thereby achieving adaptability without requiring multiple separate components
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional elements (recessed parts for friction reduction, beam parts for reinforcement, and stacking surfaces) are merged into a single integrated ejection tray component, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to various media sizes through internal structural design
2Strength
If the ejection tray structure is reinforced to support various media, then strength is improved, but device size and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement is applied locally only where structurally necessary through beam parts positioned strategically within the tray, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire tray structure, thereby maintaining strength while minimizing increase in overall tray size and apparatus footprint
3Ease of operation
If the ejection tray surface is modified to reduce friction for smooth conveyance, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Friction reduction features (recessed parts) are implemented locally at specific contact zones where media interacts with the tray surface, while beam parts provide localized structural reinforcement in areas requiring strength, thereby achieving both smooth conveyance and structural integrity without compromising either function
Data Source
AI summary
A medium ejection apparatus includes a housing, an ejection roller, and an ejection tray attached to the housing to be able to rotate and having a first surface and a second surface, formed at a back side of the first surface, to stack the medium ejected by the ejection roller. The first surface and the second surface are formed by a single member. The first surface is formed with a first recessed part extending in a medium ejection direction and a first beam part extending in the medium ejection direction and sticking out from the first recessed part. The second surface is formed with a second recessed part extending in the medium ejection direction due to the first beam part and is formed with a second beam part extending in the medium ejection direction and sticking out from the second recessed part due to the first recessed part.