Auto Document Feeder Hinge Vibration Control via Segmented Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of oil dampers in image reading apparatuses increases production costs, and existing solutions that use coil springs and dampers for assisting the opening and closing of auto document feeders (ADFs) do not effectively manage vibration energy, leading to potential impact and accuracy issues during closure.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus employs a dual-opening/closing unit mechanism where only one unit includes an oil damper for vibration attenuation, optimizing the placement of the damper to reduce impact forces while maintaining structural rigidity and reducing production costs by omitting it from the other unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an oil damper is provided in each of the pair of left and right hinges, then the ADF can quietly land on the platen glass due to vibration attenuation, but the production cost increases due to the expensive cost of the dampers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the opening/closing support function into two separate units: a first opening/closing unit without a damper and a second opening/closing unit with a damper. This segmentation allows the expensive damping function to be applied only where necessary (in the second unit) while maintaining overall system performance, thereby reducing total production cost while still effectively attenuating vibration energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the damper only to the second opening/closing unit rather than uniformly to both units. This local quality approach places the expensive vibration attenuation component only in the location where it is most needed for effective vibration energy management, optimizing both cost and performance by avoiding unnecessary dampers in the first unit.
2Ease of operation
If coil springs are provided to each of the pair of left and right hinges, then the opening motion of the ADF can be assisted by spring force, but the falling speed of the ADF cannot be sufficiently reduced when closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic opening/closing system where the first unit provides spring-based assistance for opening motion, while the second unit incorporates a damper that dynamically controls the closing speed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to assist opening through spring force while simultaneously controlling the falling speed during closing through the damping action in the second unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the damper in the second opening/closing unit as an intermediary element that mediates the closing motion. This intermediary component specifically addresses the falling speed issue during closing without interfering with the spring-based opening assistance provided by the first unit, allowing independent optimization of both opening and closing behaviors.
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 effectively reduces the impact force upon closure, maintains reading accuracy, and lowers the overall production cost by strategically using an oil damper only in the right opening/closing unit, thereby balancing performance and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The second opening/closing unit includes an attenuation device configured to attenuate vibration energy of the sheet conveyance portion
Implementation Method 2
the image sensor being configured to photoelectrically convert reflection light emitted from the light source and reflected on the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a first opening/closing unit to openably and closeably support a sheet conveyance portion with respect to an image reading portion, and a second opening/closing unit to openably and closeably support the sheet conveyance portion with respect to the image reading portion. The first opening/closing unit includes a first spring to urge the sheet conveyance portion in a direction in which the sheet conveyance portion moves from a closed position toward an opened position, and the second opening/closing unit includes a second spring to urge the sheet conveyance portion in the direction in which the sheet conveyance portion moves from the closed position toward the opened position and an oil damper to attenuate vibration energy of the sheet conveyance portion. The first opening/closing unit does not include an oil damper.