Sub-tray Nesting Mechanism for Flat Surface Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transport devices in image reading apparatuses, such as automatic document feeders, do not effectively maintain a stable and flat surface for document placement, leading to potential slipping and instability, especially when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport device with a base frame, a medium support tray that can switch between horizontal and inclined postures, and a sub-tray that can be displaced between storage and pulled-out positions, maintaining a flat surface and enhancing document placement stability through embossed surfaces and a link mechanism for easy manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a document stopper body is provided to prevent document slipping, then document stability is improved, but the flatness of the device top surface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-tray is disposed inside the medium support tray, with the convex portion nested within the recessed portion. When the sub-tray is in the retracted position, the convex portion fits into the recessed portion, maintaining a flat top surface. When pulled out, the convex portion protrudes to serve as a document stopper, preventing document slipping while temporarily altering the surface shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-tray is made movable between a retracted position (where the convex portion is inside the recessed portion) and a pulled-out position (where the convex portion protrudes). This dynamic configuration allows the device to switch between maintaining surface flatness and providing document stopping function, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sub-tray is made movable to enhance document placement flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-tray is designed to be movable along the Y1 direction, allowing users to manually pull it out to create additional document placement space or push it back to maintain surface flatness. This self-service mechanism provides adaptability without requiring complex automated control systems, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transport device includes a base frame which includes an outer edge forming portion which configures an outer edge of a device top surface, a medium support tray which is capable of switching between a horizontal posture, and a sub-tray which is capable of being displaced between a storage position and a pulled-out position, and supports the medium at the pulled-out position, in which the sub-tray includes a convex portion which configures a portion of the flat device top surface together at the storage position, and in which the sub-tray is capable of being displaced along a direction that is parallel to the device top surface in a state in which the medium support tray takes the horizontal posture.