Electronic Component Case Shutter for Smooth Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cases for electronic components face difficulties in ensuring smooth discharge of minute components through the discharge port due to gaps between the opening/closing member and the case, leading to inefficient component supply to mounting devices.
Innovation Solution
A case design featuring a guide slit and a shutter with increased thickness portions that slide to open and close the discharge port, minimizing the likelihood of components entering gaps and facilitating smooth discharge by ensuring proper alignment and contact with the guide slits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an opening/closing member is used to control the discharge port, then the discharge can be controlled, but minute electronic components may enter the gap between the opening/closing member and the case, preventing smooth discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional opening/closing member that creates gaps and instead uses a shutter mechanism that slides within a guide slit. The guide slit is designed with specific dimensions to prevent minute components from entering while allowing the shutter to move freely, thus extracting the harmful gap feature while retaining the discharge control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide slit acts as an intermediary structure between the discharge port and the external environment. It provides a controlled pathway that allows the shutter to open and close the discharge port while preventing minute components from entering the gap, thus mediating between the need for controlled discharge and the prevention of component loss.
2Productivity
If the discharge port is opened widely to facilitate component discharge, then discharge speed increases, but components may enter gaps and get lost
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slit has different dimensional characteristics at different locations: it is wide enough at the discharge port end to allow rapid component discharge, but narrows toward the interior to prevent components from entering the gap. This local variation in geometry optimizes both discharge speed and component retention.
3Length of moving object
If the shutter is made thin to reduce obstruction, then discharge port opening is maximized, but the shutter may not properly align with the guide slit
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slit is pre-formed with specific dimensional tolerances and orientation that guide the shutter into proper alignment as it slides. This preliminary structuring of the guide pathway ensures that even a thin shutter maintains proper alignment with the discharge port throughout its movement, eliminating the need for high-precision assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A case includes a case body including a discharge port through which electronic components are dischargeable, an upper guide slit and a lower guide slit communicating with the discharge port, and a shutter slidably inserted into the guide slits and movable to open and close the discharge port. The case body includes a front inner wall surface and a rear inner wall surface facing each other to define the upper guide slit therebetween and a lower inner wall surface and an upper inner wall surface defining the lower guide slit therebetween. The shutter includes a pair of first and second main surfaces, and includes, on at least one of the pair of main surfaces, an increased thickness portion extending in a sliding direction in which the shutter slides.