Power Feed Path Unit Assembly With Automatic Wire Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of conductive wire materials in power feed path units of image forming apparatuses is costly and inefficient due to complex shapes and the need for manual assembly, which hinders improved assembly productivity and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A power feed path unit design utilizing a plurality of angled surfaces and a groove portion for conductive wire placement, facilitated by an automatic assembly tool that uses a wire fixing portion and a conductive wire material, allowing for automated assembly of conductive wires across multiple surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual assembly is used for conductive wire materials in power feed path units, then assembly precision can be maintained, but assembly productivity decreases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly precisionVSAvoidassembly productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical assembly with an automatic assembly tool that uses suction to hold and place conductive wire materials. The automatic assembly tool includes a suction hole that draws the wire material into position, eliminating the need for manual handling while maintaining precise placement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of moving object

If complex shaped conductive wire materials are used to maintain compactness, then device compactness is improved, but assembly difficulty increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic assembly tool overcomes the difficulty of assembling complex-shaped wire materials by using suction force to hold and position the wires automatically. The suction hole creates a vacuum that securely grasps the wire material regardless of its complex shape, allowing automated placement without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automatic assembly tool is used for conductive wire placement, then assembly productivity increases and costs decrease, but assembly precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly productivityVSAvoidassembly precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic assembly tool maintains precision through controlled suction force that accurately positions wire materials. The suction hole is positioned and sized to provide precise control over wire placement, ensuring that automated assembly achieves the same precision as manual assembly while dramatically improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Volume of moving object

If conductive wire materials pass through multiple surfaces to maintain compactness, then device compactness is improved, but wire placement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidwire placement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic assembly tool simplifies the placement of wires through multiple surfaces by using a programmable suction-based system. The tool can automatically move the wire material through various positions and orientations required by the complex routing, eliminating the need for complex manual manipulation while maintaining the compact multi-surface design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12449753B2Power feed path unit, image forming apparatus, and assembly method for power feed path unit

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 CANON KK

AI summary

An automatic assembly tool can be used to perform placement of a conductive wire material that passes through a plurality of surfaces in a power feed path unit, thus enabling reduced costs and improved assembly productivity for the power feed path unit.