Sheet Tray Device With Side And Rear Guides For Image Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing apparatuses face issues where multiple media sheets superposed on each other can interfere with the movement of sheets towards the image processor, potentially impeding the image processing performance.
Innovation Solution
A sheet tray device with a first tray for standard-sized sheets and a second tray for smaller sheets, where the second tray is positioned above the first tray and equipped with side guides and a rear guide to prevent interference, allowing sheets to be moved without contact and maintaining image processing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple media sheets are superposed on each other in conventional image processing apparatuses, then the device can handle multiple sheets, but a media sheet having been moved away from the image processor portion can be brought into contact with the media sheets to be moved toward the image processor portion, thereby impeding movement and deteriorating image processing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet tray device is divided into a first tray for accommodating sheets to be supplied to the image processor and a second tray for accommodating sheets discharged from the image processor. This segmentation separates the supply path and discharge path, preventing interference between sheets moving in opposite directions while maintaining the capability to handle multiple sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The first tray and second tray are disposed at different positions (separated in space), with the first tray positioned to supply sheets to the image processor and the second tray positioned to receive discharged sheets. By utilizing spatial separation in another dimension, the patent prevents contact between sheets from opposite directions while maintaining multi-sheet handling capability.
2Reliability
If a sheet input tray and sheet output tray are disposed separately from each other, then sheets can be supplied and discharged without interference, but the device occupies more space and increases in size
Solution Approach 1:
The first tray and second tray are integrated into a single sheet tray device that can be disposed at different positions relative to the image processor. By merging the supply and discharge functions into one integrated device with multiple trays, the patent achieves separate sheet handling while maintaining compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet tray device serves multiple functions: it acts as both a sheet input tray for supplying sheets to the image processor and a sheet output tray for receiving discharged sheets. This multi-functionality allows separate supply and discharge paths while maintaining a compact integrated structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet tray device including: (a) a first tray accommodating a first size sheet to be moved toward an image processor portion and (b) a second tray accommodating a second size sheet to be moved toward the image processor portion. The second tray is disposed above the first tray, and receives the first or second size sheet having been moved back from the image processor portion. The second tray has (b-i) a rear guide to be in contact with a rear end of the accommodated second size sheet and (ii) a pair of side guides to be in contact with respective side ends of the accommodated second size sheet. The side guides have respective upper ends at which the first or second size sheet having been moved back from the image processor portion is received. At least one of the side guides has a height that is not smaller than a height of the rear guide. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray device.