Sheet Tray Guide Mechanism for Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet tray designs for image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing the overall volume due to the requirement of a substantial L-shaped piece for converting pivoting motion into linear motion for the sheet guide, leading to increased thickness and difficulty in downsizing the tray.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a swingable sheet guide with a boss and guide groove mechanism, allowing the lever to tilt and ascend, eliminating the need for an L-shaped piece, thereby reducing the thickness and overall volume of the sheet tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an L-shaped piece is used to convert pivoting motion to linear motion for the stopper, then the locking function is achieved, but the thickness and overall volume of the sheet tray increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the motion path of the stopper from a simple linear trajectory to a curved trajectory guided by the arc-shaped guide groove. This dimensional change in the motion path allows the stopper to be lifted substantially without requiring a long L-shaped piece, thereby reducing the thickness requirement while maintaining the locking function
Solution Approach 2:
The guide groove is designed with a curved/arc shape rather than a straight line. This curvature allows the stopper to follow a rotational arc path when the lever pivots, enabling substantial linear displacement of the stopper with a more compact lever configuration, thus reducing the overall thickness of the sheet guide
2Ease of operation
If the lever is designed to uplift the stopper substantially from the bottom plate, then the sheet guide can be released and moved, but the space required for the L-shaped piece increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a curved guide groove that transforms the pivoting motion of the lever into a curved trajectory for the stopper. This allows the stopper to achieve substantial linear displacement (uplift) through a rotational motion, reducing the linear space requirements compared to a traditional L-shaped mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet tray, including a tray body having a bottom plate, and a sheet guide, is provided. The sheet guide includes a guide plate to align sheets at a predetermined position, a lever, a swingable device having a boss and a guide groove, and a stopper pivotably connected with a hinge. The boss guided in the guide groove moves the lever between a first position, wherein the boss is in a first section in the guide groove and the stopper is lowered to an engaged position, with an engageable part being engaged with the bottom plate; and a second position, wherein the boss is in a second section in the guide groove and the stopper is uplifted to a separated position with the engageable part being separated from the bottom plate. When the lever moves from the first position to the second position, the lever tilts by ascending and pivoting.