Sheet Stacker Gap Cover for Image Formers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet-medium conveying devices in image forming apparatuses often result in sheet media being damaged due to abutment against steps or gaps between trays, making it cumbersome to set the media smoothly on the stacker surface.
Innovation Solution
A sheet-medium conveying device with a first stacker part that opens and closes, a second stacker part that can be drawn into the first, and an auxiliary member that covers the gap between them, ensuring smooth placement and preventing damage to the sheet medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a main tray and auxiliary tray are combined to form a sheet-medium stacker surface, then the stacker capacity is increased and adaptability is improved, but a step portion or gap portion is formed between the trays which causes sheet medium damage
Solution Approach 1:
A bridge portion is introduced as an intermediary element connecting the main tray and auxiliary tray. This bridge portion fills the gap between the two trays, eliminating the step portion that causes sheet medium damage while maintaining the expanded stacker capacity provided by the auxiliary tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacker surface is segmented into multiple parts (main tray and auxiliary tray) that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the auxiliary tray to be drawn out to expand capacity while the bridge portion ensures smooth transition between segments, preventing sheet medium damage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary tray is drawn from the main tray to expand stacker surface, then the stacker capacity is increased, but guide members must move outside the auxiliary tray which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are merged with the auxiliary tray structure itself, forming an integrated assembly. When the auxiliary tray is drawn out, the guide members move together with it as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate guide member movement mechanisms and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide members are nested within the auxiliary tray structure, allowing them to be contained and moved together with the auxiliary tray. This nesting arrangement simplifies the overall mechanism by eliminating independent guide member actuation systems.
3Volume of moving object
If the auxiliary tray is folded and main tray is closed, then the device is compacted for storage, but user operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The tray system employs dynamic, multi-stage movement capabilities allowing the auxiliary tray to be selectively drawn out or folded in depending on operational needs. This dynamic configuration enables the system to transition between compact storage mode and expanded operational mode, maintaining ease of operation while achieving compactness when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet-medium conveying device, which has a first sheet-medium stacker part provided on a casing so as to be capable of being opened from and closed to the casing; a second sheet-medium stacker part provided on the first sheet-medium stacker part so as to be capable of being drawn from and inserted into the first sheet-medium stacker part; and an auxiliary member provided on the first sheet-medium stacker part so as to be capable of being moved, the auxiliary member being engaged with the second sheet-medium stacker part so as to be moved together with the drawing of the second sheet-medium stacker part so that the auxiliary member covers a gap portion between the main sheet-medium stacker surface and the expanded sheet-medium stacker surface when the second sheet-medium stacker part is in a drawn state.