Stacking Tray Guide Plate Stopper Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional paper feeding systems in business machines often result in paper skewing and damage due to inaccurate adjustment of guide plates, which is inconvenient and inefficient, especially when handling different paper sizes.
Innovation Solution
A stacking tray device with a stopper mechanism that allows guide plates to be easily adjusted between standard and oversized paper sizes, enabling intuitive operation by locking or unlocking the stopper position to accommodate various paper sizes without requiring manual alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance between guide plates is adjusted manually to match paper width, then paper positioning accuracy is improved, but operation convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-setting the guide plates at standard paper size positions (A4, Letter, etc.) during manufacturing. Users simply need to select the appropriate preset position rather than manually measuring and adjusting, which maintains positioning accuracy while dramatically improving operation convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plates are designed to be movable along the tray, allowing dynamic adjustment between different preset positions. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different paper sizes while maintaining both accuracy and ease of use through the combination of preset positions and movable mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If the distance between guide plates is adjusted slowly and deliberately to align with paper edges, then paper positioning accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plates come pre-positioned at standard paper sizes during manufacturing, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment. Users simply select the appropriate preset position, reducing the adjustment process from a deliberate, time-consuming task to a quick selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically providing correctly positioned guide plates for standard paper sizes. The pre-marked positions and preset mechanisms allow the system to serve itself by maintaining accurate positioning without requiring user intervention for measurement and alignment.
3Measurement precision
If guide plates are retracted until contact with paper edges, then paper positioning accuracy is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plates are pre-positioned at standard distances from the tray center corresponding to common paper sizes. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex manual retraction and contact-based alignment, reducing operational complexity while maintaining accuracy for standard paper sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual markings on the tray that copy or represent the actual guide plate positions. These markings serve as templates that guide users to the correct positions, simplifying the operation by providing a visual copy of the desired configuration without requiring complex manual adjustment procedures.
4Reliability
If the feeding opening width is restricted to match paper width, then paper skewing is reduced, but adaptability to different paper sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plates are designed to be movable along the tray, allowing the feeding opening width to be dynamically adjusted. Users can reposition the guide plates for different paper sizes while maintaining the restriction function, thus preserving both skewing prevention reliability and adaptability to various paper dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate mechanism serves multiple functions: it restricts the feeding opening to prevent skewing, accommodates different paper sizes through repositioning, and provides visual guidance via markings. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same mechanism adaptable to different paper sizes while maintaining skewing prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a stacking tray device to be used for a business machine. The stacking tray device comprises a tray, a guide plate and a stopper, wherein paper is placed on the tray, the guide plate moves relative to the tray and restricts the size of the paper, and the stopper sets the position where the guide plate stops when the guide plate is pushed from the center towards the outside. When the stopper is in a lock position, the guide plate stops at a first position corresponding to a first standard paper size; when the stopper is in an unlock position, the guide plate stops at a second position corresponding to an oversized paper size.