Sheet Discharge Tray Attachment Mechanism for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face difficulties in easily attaching a sheet discharge tray due to the risk of hook member breakage and challenges in confirming the hook mounting portion, leading to complex and time-consuming attachment processes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with a standing wall, image forming unit, and a sheet discharge tray with a fixing portion that attaches to both the standing wall and a restricting member, allowing for easy attachment and secure placement above the sheet discharge portion, with a stopper to prevent sheet drop and guide the tray's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hook member projects upward or downward from the sheet discharge tray to enable attachment, then the tray can be fixed to the image forming apparatus, but the hook member may be broken during attachment and it is difficult for operators to confirm the hook mounting portion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the sheet discharge tray itself project hooks, the invention inverts the approach by providing hooks on the image forming apparatus body (specifically on the discharge tray holder) that receive the tray. This inversion eliminates the risk of hook breakage during tray attachment while making the mounting portions clearly visible and accessible to operators from the front side.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hook member projects upward from the sheet discharge tray, then attachment is possible, but it is difficult for an operator to confirm the hook mounting portion and the attaching operation takes time
Solution Approach 1:
The hooks are pre-installed on the discharge tray holder of the image forming apparatus body before the sheet discharge tray is attached. This preliminary positioning of attachment elements allows operators to simply align and attach the tray without needing to locate or manipulate hidden hooks, significantly reducing attachment time while maintaining flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sheet discharge tray is additionally attached above the sheet discharge portion, then multiple discharge positions are available, but the attachment process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge tray holder with pre-installed hooks serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the sheet discharge tray, defines the attachment position, and guides the tray during attachment. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall attachment mechanism while enabling flexible discharge position selection, reducing attachment complexity despite providing multiple discharge options.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a first discharge opening and a second discharge opening, a sheet discharge portion, a restricting member and a sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge portion is connected at a position below the first discharge opening, and the sheet discharged through the first discharge opening is to be placed thereon. The restricting member stands up on a downstream side of the sheet discharge portion in a discharging direction of the sheet and can come into contact with a downstream end edge of the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge portion in the discharging direction. The sheet discharge tray includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion to be fixed to an upper end part of the restricting member and is attachable above the sheet discharge portion, and a sheet discharged through the second discharge opening is to be placed thereon.