Sheet Tray With Movable Receiving Members For Variable Paper Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image recording apparatuses face challenges in adjusting the size of the supporting surface for sheets of varying sizes, requiring complex adjustments or division of stacking members to accommodate both small and large paper sizes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A sheet tray design with movable receiving members that allow the user to adjust the supporting surface size by selecting from multiple holding portions, enabling the tray to support sheets of different sizes without complex adjustments, by overlapping and exposing supporting surfaces as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all stacking members are drawn out to support large sheets, then the supporting surface becomes too long for small sheets, but if stacking members are not drawn out, then large sheets cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking members are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be drawn out or retracted as needed. The holding portions enable users to easily move stacking members between different positions, dynamically adjusting the supporting surface length to match the sheet size being used.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacking members are divided into multiple segments with holding portions that allow independent movement. This segmentation enables flexible configuration where only the necessary portion of the stacking members is drawn out, rather than moving the entire structure, thus simplifying the adjustment process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the supporting surface is made long to support large sheets, then it cannot be easily adjusted for small sheets, but if made short, then large sheets cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portions are designed to be easily grippable by users, allowing direct manual operation without requiring tools or complex mechanisms. Users can independently move the stacking members to the desired position, making the system self-adjusting and easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacking members transition from a fixed state to a movable state on demand, allowing the supporting surface length to be dynamically adjusted based on the sheet size being used, thereby improving both adaptability and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If stacking members are divided into drawable and non-drawable types, then the supporting surface can be optimized, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
All stacking members are designed with the same structure including holding portions, making them universally interchangeable. Each member can serve multiple functions - being either drawn out or retracted based on operational needs, eliminating the need for different types of members and simplifying the overall device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet tray includes: a first receiving member; a second receiving member including a first holding portion configured to be pushed into and drawn out from the first receiving member and a third receiving member including a second holding portion configured to be pushed into and drawn out from the second receiving member. The first receiving member covers the second and third receiving members in a state of being pushed into. The second receiving member is configured to expose the second holding portion while maintaining a state in which the third receiving member can be drawn out. The first receiving member is configured to expose the second holding portion while maintaining a state in which the third receiving member can be drawn out.