Image Forming Apparatus Cover Hinge Inversion for Media Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the existing medium discharge mechanisms often require users to open covers to angles that can interfere with hand access, making it difficult to easily retrieve discharged recording media due to cover protrusions and limited opening ranges.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first opening and closing covering that is supported by an opening closing support member to open towards the front face, reducing the distance between its lower end and a second covering to 10 mm or less, allowing for easier access by minimizing the protrusion and ensuring the cover can open close to the second covering, thus avoiding hand interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening and closing covering is designed to open about a lower hinge, then the covering can be opened to approximately 90° to 150°, but the protruding cover interferes with hand access to retrieve recording media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional hinge placement by positioning the hinge at the upper end of the covering instead of the lower end. This inversion causes the covering to swing upward when opened, reducing the protrusion distance and eliminating interference with hand access to retrieve recording media from the discharge space.
2Ease of operation
If the opening and closing covering is designed to open about an upper hinge, then the covering opens toward the near side, but the opening angle is limited to approximately 90° to 150°
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the hinge at the upper end, allowing the covering to swing upward in the vertical direction rather than only horizontally. This dimensional change enables the covering to clear the discharge space more effectively while maintaining a practical opening angle for user access.
3Area of stationary object
If the covering is made longer to provide better coverage, then the coverage area increases, but the distance from the lower end to the second covering increases, reducing accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the hinge position to the upper end, the patent allows the covering to swing upward, which reduces the vertical distance from the lower end to the discharge space even when the covering is long. This resolves the contradiction between providing extensive coverage and maintaining accessibility.
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 user accessibility by reducing the risk of hand contact with the cover and allows for smoother retrieval of discharged media, improving operational convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the first opening and closing covering is openable toward a near side with respect to the front face of the housing by rotating about at least one moving shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; an image forming part that forms an image on a recording medium; a medium discharge part that has a space opened to an outside through a front face opening off-centered toward one of left and right on a front face of the housing and a side face opening continuous from the front face opening and in which a recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming part is discharged to the space; a first opening and closing covering that is opened and closed to cover a part including a part of the front face opening of the medium discharge part on the front face of the housing; and a second covering that covers at least a part excluding the part covered with the first opening and closing covering on the front face of the housing, is almost perpendicular to an installation surface, and is longer in an up-down direction than the first opening and closing covering. The first opening and closing covering is attached so that a lower end part thereof in a closed state is connected to an upper part of the second covering by an opening closing support member that supports the first opening and closing covering so as to open the first opening and closing covering toward a near side with respect to the front face of the housing by rotating about at least one moving shaft, and thereby the first opening and closing covering is openable to such an extent that a distance between a lower end part thereof in an opened state and the second covering becomes 10 mm or less.