Weighted Document Stopper for Easy Sheet Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stoppers in document transport devices are difficult to maneuver between standing and tilting positions, requiring manual operation, which complicates the retrieval of documents from the ejection tray.
Innovation Solution
A stopper mechanism with a rotating shaft, contact piece, and weight piece that automatically pivots from a standing to a tilting position when a predetermined force is applied, allowing easy document retrieval and returning to the standing position without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stopper is designed to be supported in a substantially vertical posture to prevent documents from falling, then the stopper can effectively block documents in the ejection direction, but the interval between the stopper and the paper feed tray becomes narrow, making it difficult to take out documents
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is designed to rotate between a vertical posture (when no force is applied) and a tilted posture (when force is applied). This dynamic transformation allows the stopper to automatically adjust its position: maintaining document retention when idle, and facilitating easy document removal when needed, by widening the interval between the stopper and paper feed tray upon rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper utilizes the weight piece's own weight to automatically return to the vertical posture after being tilted. When a document is removed and the applied force disappears, the weight piece causes the stopper to self-return to its original position without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining document retention automatically
2Reliability
If a stopper is used to prevent documents from falling in the ejection direction, then document retention is improved, but the device height increases due to the need for sufficient interval between the stopper and paper feed tray
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper rotates between vertical and tilted postures based on applied force. When tilted during document removal, it provides sufficient clearance without increasing overall device height. When vertical during normal operation, it maintains compact dimensions, thus avoiding permanent height increase while still ensuring document retention
3Ease of operation
If the stopper is manually operated to shift between standing and tilting positions, then document removal is facilitated, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper automatically tilts when force is applied (such as when a document pushes it or a user gently presses it) and automatically returns to vertical when the force is removed. This self-operating mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual control operations while still facilitating document removal when needed
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
Enables easy and efficient document removal from the ejection tray by automatically adjusting its posture based on applied force, reducing the need for manual operation and accommodating documents of varying sizes without increasing the device height.
Implementation Method 1
The stopper pivots from the tilted posture to the standing posture due to the weight piece's own weight
Data Source
AI summary
A document transport device includes an ejection tray on which documents ejected in a predetermined ejection direction are loaded and a stopper that prevents documents from falling from the ejection tray in the ejection direction. The stopper has a rotating shaft rotatably supported at the ejection tray in a direction intersecting the ejection direction, a contact piece provided at the rotating shaft to be hit by a tip of a document in the ejection direction, and a weight piece provided at the rotating shaft. The stopper is able to pivot to be in a standing posture in which the contact piece stands due to the weight of the weight piece and pivot to be in a tilting posture in which the stopper tilts in the ejection direction from the standing posture when a predetermined force is applied to the contact piece.