Tray Vibration Isolation via Protruding Press Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing noise emissions due to vibrations propagating through the exterior cover, particularly the manual feed tray, which amplifies noise and is difficult to isolate without increasing the apparatus' size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a first protruding portion on the apparatus main body that presses the outer wall of the tray and extension tray when closed, effectively suppressing vibrations and noise emissions by ensuring the tray and extension tray are securely positioned and isolated from vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a sound-absorbing material is disposed inside the manual feed tray to provide sound insulation, then noise emission from the tray is reduced, but the size of the apparatus main body increases and structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sound insulation function from the manual feed tray itself and relocates it to the apparatus main body structure. Specifically, a protruding portion of the apparatus main body presses against the tray to provide vibration isolation, separating the tray's primary function (sheet stacking) from the sound insulation function, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the protruding portion of the apparatus main body - that mediates between the tray and the sound insulation requirement. This protruding portion acts as a vibration isolation mechanism, pressing against the tray to reduce vibration transmission without requiring the tray itself to be complex or oversized
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a sound-absorbing material is disposed inside the manual feed tray to provide sound insulation, then noise emission from the tray is reduced, but the apparatus main body size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the sound insulation function at a specific localized area - the protruding portion of the apparatus main body that contacts the tray. Instead of requiring the entire apparatus main body or the tray to be enlarged, the solution is implemented locally at the critical vibration transmission interface, maintaining compact overall dimensions while achieving effective noise reduction
3Quantity of substance
If the manual feed tray is made larger to increase stacking capacity, then sheet stacking capability is improved, but vibration propagation and noise emission increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manual feed tray into functional zones: a stacking surface area for holding sheets and a vibration isolation interface where the protruding portion contacts the tray. This segmentation allows the tray to have adequate stacking capacity while the vibration isolation mechanism is applied at the critical contact point, preventing noise propagation without reducing stacking functionality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration achieves a noise reduction effect of about 7 dB at the gear meshing frequency, significantly improving the apparatus' noise reduction capabilities while maintaining a simple structure and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the first protruding portion presses an outer wall portion of the tray and the extension tray toward the opened position... achieves a noise reduction effect of about 7 dB at the gear meshing frequency
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit configured to form an image, a tray configured to stack the sheet, the tray being turnable between a closed position and an opened position, a feed unit configured to feed the sheet, and an extension tray configured to stack the sheet, the extension tray being movable between an extension position in which the extension tray is extended from the tray toward an upstream side and a stored position in which the extension tray is stored in the tray, wherein the apparatus main body has a first protruding portion protruding from the side surface of the apparatus main body toward the tray, and wherein when the tray is in the closed position and the extension tray is in the stored position, the first protruding portion presses an outer wall portion of the tray and the extension tray toward the opened position.