Sheet Tray Segmentation for Smooth Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image recording apparatuses face operability issues due to the connection of the sheet tray and cassette cover through a coil spring, which prevents smooth pulling out of the sheet tray until the coil spring is fully stretched, degrading the tray's usability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sheet tray with a main tray and an extension tray, along with a drawing portion and a first stop portion, allowing the sheet tray to be smoothly pulled out by positioning the main tray into a second position, where the extension tray supports the recording sheet, and the first stop portion restricts the extension tray's movement, eliminating the need for a coil spring bias.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the sheet tray is connected to the cassette cover through a coil spring to maintain a flush outer appearance, then the outer appearance is improved, but the sheet tray cannot be pulled out smoothly and operability is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet tray is divided into a main tray and an extension tray that can move independently. The extension tray can be pulled out separately from the main tray, allowing smooth extraction without being constrained by the coil spring connection to the cassette cover. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy operation while maintaining the flush outer appearance when the extension tray is retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension tray is extracted as a separate movable component from the main tray. This allows the extension tray to be pulled out independently for sheet replacement while the main tray remains connected to the cassette cover through the coil spring, maintaining the desired outer appearance. The extraction principle enables smooth operation without compromising the aesthetic design.
2Productivity
If the coil spring is used to bias the sheet tray toward the back side to enable sheet feeding, then the sheet feeding function is achieved, but the sheet tray cannot be pulled out until the coil spring is fully stretched
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sheet tray into main tray and extension tray, the patent allows the extension tray to be pulled out independently without waiting for the coil spring to fully stretch. The main tray can remain biased by the coil spring for sheet feeding, while the extension tray responds immediately to user input, significantly improving pulling out speed and operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension tray acts as an intermediary component between the user and the main tray. When the user pulls the extension tray, it moves independently of the main tray and the coil spring mechanism. This intermediary allows immediate response to pulling actions while the coil spring continues to perform its sheet feeding function through the main tray.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the extension tray is pulled out to support a recording sheet, then the sheet support function is improved, but the extension tray movement in the inserting direction is unrestricted
Solution Approach 1:
The first stop portion is positioned in advance within the accommodating portion to automatically restrict the extension tray's movement in the inserting direction when the main tray is at a specific position. This preliminary positioning ensures that once the extension tray is pulled out for sheet support, it remains stable and does not move excessively during insertion, providing both sheet support capability and position stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus including: a sheet tray; a drawing portion; and a first stop portion. The sheet tray is inserted into and pulled out from an accommodating portion along an inserting direction. A main tray of the sheet tray is positioned at a first position and at a second position located downstream of the first position in the inserting direction as a result of movement of the main tray in the inserting direction. An extension tray of the sheet tray is movable relative to the main tray. The drawing portion draws the main tray from the first position into the second position. The first stop portion is disposed in the accommodating portion and abuttable against the extension tray when the main tray is located downstream of the first position in the inserting direction to restrict movement of the extension tray in the inserting direction.