Image Forming Apparatus Circuit Board Cover Access Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face difficulties in accessing the electrical circuit board without damaging the exterior cover, as conventional designs require users to insert tools through small gaps, leading to potential damage and increased complexity in maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A rotationally movable cover mechanism that allows for easy access to the electrical circuit board while preventing damage, featuring a removably installable circuit board cover that is covered by the rotationally movable cover when closed and exposed when open, reducing the need for removing external casing parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrical circuit board is disposed on the inward side of the exterior cover, then the risk of accidental electrical problems is reduced, but the difficulty of accessing the circuit board for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cover structure into two separate components: the exterior cover and a dedicated circuit board cover. This segmentation allows the circuit board to remain protected within the main assembly while providing independent access through the removable circuit board cover, thus maintaining both safety and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board cover acts as an intermediary element between the exterior cover and the electrical circuit board. It provides a dedicated access path that does not require removing the main exterior cover, serving as a mediator that enables maintenance while preserving the protective function of the main cover.
2Reliability
If the exterior cover is made difficult to remove to protect internal components, then component protection is improved, but the ease of maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is segmented into the main exterior cover that remains fixed for protection, and a separate circuit board cover that can be easily removed for maintenance. This segmentation allows different parts of the cover to serve different functions optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board access function is extracted from the main exterior cover and placed into a separate, dedicated circuit board cover. This extraction allows the main cover to focus on protection while the extracted component handles access requirements.
3Ease of repair
If a tool insertion gap is provided between the cover end surface and frame, then the circuit board becomes accessible, but the cover surface is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The tool insertion gap is completely removed from the design. Instead, a dedicated circuit board cover with its own removal mechanism is provided, eliminating the need for tools that could damage the cover surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board cover is designed as a sacrificial or easily replaceable component that can be removed and replaced without damaging the main exterior cover. The wear and tear is concentrated on the disposable cover rather than the permanent main cover.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly including an image forming portion capable of forming an image on a sheet, a rotatable cover movable between an open state and a closed state, a substrate mounting unit including a substrate mounting portion on which an electrical substrate is mounted, and a substrate cover portion engaged and held so as to cover the electrical substrate mounted on the substrate mounting portion. The substrate mounting unit includes a mounting and demounting mechanism configured to permit mounting and dismounting of the substrate cover portion. The substrate cover portion is covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed state, and the substrate cover portion is uncovered by the cover when the cover is in the open state.