Stepped Support Angles for Compact Paper Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium feed apparatuses struggle to maintain appropriate paper orientation for both high and low rigidity papers, leading to issues like non-feeding and increased installation space requirements due to varying angles of inclination in support faces.
Innovation Solution
A medium feed apparatus with a first support section and a second support section, where the second support section is positioned upstream and has a steeper angle of inclination than the first, forming a step to prevent trailing edge contact and allowing for appropriate feeding regardless of paper rigidity, while also reducing installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second support face is configured to form an angle of inclination that lies flatter than the first support face, then recording paper can be supported, but a paper support forming the second support face adopts a state protruding to the apparatus rear side, necessitating a larger installation space at the rear of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the second support face with a steeper angle of inclination than the first support face, breaking the symmetric configuration where both faces had the same angle. This asymmetric design allows the second support face to be positioned more upright, reducing the projection to the apparatus rear side and thereby decreasing the required installation space while maintaining reliable paper orientation through the differentiated angular configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular dimension of the second support face relative to the first support face. By making the second support face steeper (larger angle of inclination), the paper support structure can achieve the same orientation function in a more compact vertical arrangement, reducing the horizontal projection to the rear side and thus optimizing the installation space footprint
2Reliability
If recording paper having high rigidity is set in a configuration in which the first support face and the second support face are set with the same angle of inclination, then paper can be supported, but if the recording paper is deformed so as to be bent toward an upper side, only a trailing edge of the recording paper contacts the second support face and the inclined orientation of the recording paper becomes a steep angle, making non-feeding liable to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving different angle of inclination values to the first support face and the second support face. The first support face has a gentler angle while the second support face has a steeper angle. This localized differentiation in angular configuration ensures that high rigidity paper makes proper contact with both support faces at appropriate locations, preventing the trailing edge from contacting only the second support face and causing steep angular orientation that leads to non-feeding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular parameter of the support faces, specifically setting the angle of inclination of the second support face to be larger than that of the first support face. This parameter modification creates an optimized geometric configuration that accommodates high rigidity paper by ensuring proper contact distribution across both support faces, thereby maintaining consistent paper orientation and preventing feeding failures
3Device complexity
If the second support face is positioned at the same level as the first support face, then the apparatus structure is simplified, but recording paper having high rigidity does not readily follow the angle of the support faces and adopt the intended inclined orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by positioning the second support face at a different vertical level than the first support face, specifically making the second support face steeper. This asymmetric vertical arrangement creates a more effective inclined orientation path for high rigidity paper, guiding the paper to properly follow the support faces' angles and adopt the intended orientation without requiring complex additional control mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A medium feed apparatus includes a first support face and a second support face. The first support face supports a medium fed by a feed unit that feeds medium by supporting such that the medium adopts an inclined orientation. The second support section is positioned upstream of the first support face in a feed direction, and supports the medium together with the first support face. The second support face is at a position set back from the first support face, and an angle of inclination from a lower end portion to an upper end portion of the second support face is steeper than an angle of inclination of the first support face.