Adjustable Door Pivot Mechanism for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with multiple doors on side surfaces face alignment issues, leading to sheet skew and displacement, which degrades sheet feeding performance and complicates paper jam treatment.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a single door on a side surface, supported by three pivot points (upper, middle, and lower sections) that are adjustable, and a lock mechanism with locking claws and hooks to prevent deformation and ensure accurate positioning and secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple doors are provided on the side surface of the apparatus body, then various components of sheet paths can be accessed, but positioning mechanisms become numerous and alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple door functions into a single integrated door structure. The door provides access to multiple sheet path components (reversing sheet path, manual feed section, vertical feed unit) through one unified opening, eliminating the need for multiple separate doors and their associated positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The door is divided into multiple sections (first door section, second door section, third door section) that can be independently positioned and locked. Each section has its own locking mechanism, allowing precise positioning of different portions of the door while maintaining overall alignment accuracy.
2Device complexity
If a single large door is provided on the side surface, then the number of positioning mechanisms is reduced, but the door is likely to be deformed and requires a lock mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The door is segmented into multiple sections (first, second, and third door sections) that can be independently locked at different positions. This segmentation prevents deformation by distributing mechanical stresses across multiple smaller sections rather than one large monolithic door.
Solution Approach 2:
Locking mechanisms are provided in advance at multiple positions along the door sections. These locking mechanisms can be engaged before the door is fully closed, preventing deformation during the closing process and ensuring the door maintains its shape throughout operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple doors are provided, then sheet path components can be accessed, but sheet skew and displacement occur lowering sheet feeding performance
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple door functions into a single door structure, the patent ensures that all sheet path components are accessed through one unified opening. This eliminates misalignment between multiple door openings that would cause sheet skew and displacement, thereby maintaining high sheet feeding performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The door sections are designed to be dynamically adjustable to different positions, allowing the door to adapt to various operational requirements while maintaining precise alignment. This dynamic positioning capability ensures that the door remains properly aligned with sheet paths regardless of which components need to be accessed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple doors are provided, then various components can be accessed, but the user is required to do many things to treat a paper jam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple door functions into a single door structure that provides access to all sheet path components. When a paper jam occurs, the user only needs to open this one door to access and clear the jam, regardless of which component is affected, significantly simplifying paper jam treatment compared to opening multiple different doors.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus having a door on a side surface of a body of the apparatus. Three pivot points for supporting the door to be capable of pivoting horizontally are disposed in the rear side of the apparatus body, in an upper section, in a middle section and in a lower section, respectively. The upper pivot point and the lower pivot point are adjustable with reference to the middle pivot point.