Sheet Stacking Apparatus Moisture Isolation via Exterior Cover Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-humidity environments, sheets stored in a sheet stacking apparatus for image forming devices absorb moisture, leading to sheet undulation and potential conveyance failures or image degradation.
Innovation Solution
The sheet stacking apparatus incorporates a main body frame with opening portions that hold storages, each with an exterior cover larger than the opening, allowing the storages to be pulled out and stacked, and a conveyance portion that overlaps an exterior cover when viewed horizontally, reducing the apparatus' height and enhancing moisture isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an outside-air blocking seal member is provided to isolate the outside air from the inside of the sheet stacking apparatus, then moisture absorption by sheets is suppressed, but the height of the apparatus is increased due to the seal member and adhesion surface
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior cover serves dual functions: it acts as both the outer protective cover and the adhesion surface for the seal member. By merging these two previously separate components into one, the need for additional height to accommodate a separate adhesion surface is eliminated, thus preventing increase in apparatus height while maintaining effective sealing against moisture
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior cover is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural protection, serves as the mounting surface for the seal member, and defines the boundary of the storage chamber. This multi-functionality allows the sealing system to be integrated without adding extra height to the apparatus
2Length of stationary object
If the conveyance portion is positioned to overlap the exterior cover in the vertical direction, then the apparatus height is reduced, but the structural complexity increases due to the overlapping arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance portion is positioned to overlap the exterior cover in the vertical direction rather than being arranged side-by-side horizontally. This vertical stacking arrangement utilizes the vertical dimension more efficiently, reducing the overall apparatus height while the overlapping configuration itself manages the structural complexity through spatial optimization
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet stacking apparatus includes a plurality of storages, a plurality of conveyance portions provided above sheets stored in the storages, respectively, to convey the sheets, and a main body frame holding the storages and having a plurality of opening portions through which the storages are movable between a closed position in which the sheets are conveyed and a pullout position in which the sheets are stacked. The storages include a plurality of exterior covers, respectively, each exterior cover being larger than a corresponding opening portion so as to cover the corresponding opening portion. The storages are arranged so that the plurality of exterior covers are aligned in a vertical direction. A conveyance portion, which conveys the sheets stored in a lower storage of the storages, overlaps an exterior cover of a storage one above the lower storage in the vertical direction when viewed in a horizontal direction.