Sheet Ejecting Device Guides Prevent Curling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet ejecting devices experience reduced stacking capacity when sheets are curled, as successive sheets collide with and push out preceding sheets on the ejection trays.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sheet ejecting device with a first and second ejection tray configuration, where guides on the lower surface of the second ejection tray contact and guide the widthwise ends of the sheet downward, preventing curling and maintaining flatness, thus preventing collisions and maintaining stacking capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If sheets are ejected onto ejection trays without additional guiding structures, then the ejection process is simple, but the sheets curl into rolls or half-pipes causing reduced stacking capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection tray is divided into multiple functional zones: an ejection area where sheets are deposited, and a guiding area with first and second guides that segment the sheet path. The guides are positioned at widthwise end portions to independently control the orientation of each sheet edge, preventing curling by providing localized guidance rather than requiring complete structural redesign of the entire tray system.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second guides act as intermediary elements between the ejection roller and the final sheet position on the tray. These guides mediate the sheet's transition from a curled state to a flattened, properly oriented state by providing contact surfaces that redirect the widthwise end portions downward, enabling sheets to stack flat without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If guides are added to prevent sheet curling, then stacking capacity is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than implementing a uniform guiding structure across the entire ejection tray, the invention applies guiding elements (first and second guides) only at specific locations where sheets tend to curl - namely, at the widthwise end portions. This localized approach addresses the curling problem precisely where it occurs without adding unnecessary complexity to other areas of the tray, maintaining simplicity while achieving the stacking capacity goal.
3Productivity
If successive sheets are ejected onto the same tray without guidance, then ejection speed is maintained, but sheets collide and push out preceding sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second guides are positioned in the downstream portion of the ejection area to preliminarily orient and position sheets before they complete their ejection trajectory. By guiding the widthwise end portions downward during the ejection process itself (rather than after ejection), the system ensures sheets are properly aligned before they can collide with or push out preceding sheets, maintaining high ejection speed while preventing stacking failures.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet ejecting device having a first ejection tray, a first ejection roller to eject the sheet to the first ejection tray, a second ejection tray in a position above the first ejection tray, a second ejection roller to eject the sheet to the second ejection tray, and a first guide and a second guide disposed in widthwise end portions on a lower surface of the second ejection tray, is provided. The first guide and the second guide are configured to contact widthwise end portions of the sheet ejected by the first ejection roller and guide the widthwise end portions of the sheet downward.