Rotating Output Member for Small Document Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face difficulties in easily unloading small-size documents due to the configuration of the output section, where the front portion is rotated by a shaft extending in the width direction of the image forming unit, making it cumbersome for users to access and remove small documents.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a rotating member at the front portion of the output section that can switch between an output position and a descent position, facilitated by a rotating shaft at the upstream side, allowing for enhanced accessibility of small-size documents by rotating the member downward when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front portion of the output section is rotated by a rotating shaft extending in the width direction, then the output section can switch between output position and descent position, but it becomes difficult to easily unload small-size documents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rotation axis orientation from the width direction (horizontal) to the depth direction (vertical). This dimensional change allows the front portion to rotate downward in a vertical plane, creating more clearance space below the output section and improving accessibility for removing small documents without increasing overall device complexity
2Ease of operation
If the rotating member descends to improve accessibility, then user access to small documents is enhanced, but interference with the sheet guide may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically adjustable rotating member that can switch between output position and descent position based on operational needs. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize for either document accessibility or sheet guide clearance depending on the current task, resolving the conflict between these two requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The output section is segmented into a front portion (rotating member) and a rear portion, with the front portion independently rotatable about a vertical axis. This segmentation allows the front portion to be positioned independently to avoid interfering with the sheet guide while maintaining document output functionality
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image onto a recording medium; an image reading unit that is disposed above the image forming unit in an up-down direction, transports a document, and reads an image formed on the document; a first output section that is provided in a connection section connecting the image forming unit and the image reading unit to each other in the up-down direction and to which the document read by the image reading unit and transported in a width direction of the image forming unit is output; a second output section that is provided below the first output section in the connection section and to which the recording medium having the image formed thereon by the image forming unit is output; and a rotating member that serves as a front portion of the first output section in a depth direction of the image forming unit, is rotatable by a rotating shaft disposed at an upstream side in an output direction of the document, and switches between an output position from which the document is output and a descent position to which a downstream end of the rotating member in the output direction descends relative to the output position.