Cable Routing for Image Forming Apparatus Drawer Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses with flat cables connecting the image controller and LED emission controller face durability issues due to small bending radii, leading to reduced durability and increased risk of cable breakage during the drawing-out and insertion of the image forming unit, which complicates the maintenance and downsizing of printers.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a relay substrate and a main assembly substrate connected by a cable that folds back and extends from the relay substrate in the opposite direction, forming an arcuate curved portion with a larger bending radius, ensuring sufficient durability and preventing cable breakage, while maintaining the ability to draw out and insert the image forming unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the flat cable is routed in a compact space between the guiding member and image forming unit, then the printer achieves downsizing, but the bending radius of the cable becomes small reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing is changed from a two-dimensional planar path between guiding member and image forming unit to a three-dimensional path that extends outside the compact space. The cable exits through an opening in the guiding member and routes along the outer surface of the image forming unit, utilizing the third dimension (depth/height) to achieve a larger bending radius while maintaining compact printer dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening in the guiding member acts as an intermediary element that allows the cable to transition from the compact internal space to an external routing path. This intermediary structure enables the cable to maintain electrical connection while avoiding the high-stress small-bending-radius zone between the guiding member and image forming unit.
2Ease of operation
If the image forming unit is made easily removable for maintenance, then accessibility is improved, but the cable must withstand repeated bending reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is pre-routed through an opening in the guiding member and along the outer surface of the image forming unit before the unit is removed for maintenance. This preliminary routing configuration ensures that the cable maintains a large bending radius throughout the removal and reinstallation process, preventing damage from repeated bending that would occur if the cable were routed through the compact internal space.
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 enhances the durability of the cable connection, allowing for more reliable maintenance operations and printer downsizing by maintaining a larger bending radius, thus preventing cable breakage and ensuring consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
the cable extends from the relay substrate in an opposite direction to the drawing-out direction and is folded back in the drawing-out direction on a side downstream of the third wall portion with respect to the opposite direction and then is connected to the main assembly substrate through an opening provided in one of the first facing portion and the second facing portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a drawer unit. The drawer unit includes a photosensitive drum, an optical print head, first to third wall portions and a relay substrate. The main assembly includes a first facing portion, a second facing portion and a main assembly substrate. The relay substrate and the main assembly substrate are connected by a cable folded back at the rear of the third wall portion. A distance between a portion of the cable before being folded back and a portion of the cable after being folded back is longer than a distance, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the optical print head, between the first or second wall portion on which the relay substrate is provided and the first or second facing portion facing the first or second wall portion on which the relay substrate is provided.