Cover Open-Closed State Detection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional facsimile machines have issues with accurately detecting the open/close status of their covers, leading to incorrect operation and potential errors due to variations in positional relations between the actuator and sensor components, causing the cover to be erroneously detected as closed when it is not fully closed, or vice versa.
Innovation Solution
A detecting system that includes an actuating mechanism and a releasing mechanism, where the actuating mechanism is shifted in a second direction when the cover is opened to a predetermined extent, allowing for precise detection of the open state even when the cover is slightly open, preventing incorrect detection of the cover being fully closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the on-state range of the cover open/close sensor is configured to be wide enough to compensate for positional variations, then the sensor can be reliably switched on when the cover is closed, but the open state of the cover cannot be detected when the cover is opened slightly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide hole is divided into two distinct portions: a main guide portion that guides the actuator during normal opening/closing motion, and a release portion that triggers the actuator to shift in the second direction. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between normal operational ranges and the state requiring open detection, resolving the contradiction between reliable closed-state detection and accurate open-state detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to dynamically change its shifting direction based on the cover's position. During normal operation, it shifts in the first direction (upward) with cover opening. When the cover is opened to a predetermined extent, the release portion causes the actuator to shift in the second direction (forward), releasing the detecting unit from the actuating mechanism's effect. This dynamic behavior enables accurate detection of both closed and slightly open states.
2Device complexity
If the detecting unit is continuously affected by the actuating mechanism, then the system maintains simple detection logic, but incorrect operation occurs when the cover is not fully closed
Solution Approach 1:
The release portion is designed to preemptively counteract the actuating mechanism's effect before the cover can be mistakenly judged as closed. When the cover is opened to the predetermined extent, the actuator shifts in the second direction, releasing the detecting unit from the actuating mechanism's effect. This preliminary anti-action prevents incorrect operation by ensuring the detecting unit is not influenced by the actuating mechanism when the cover is improperly positioned.
Data Source
AI summary
A detecting system capable of detecting an open/closed state of a cover equipped to a body of a device is provided. The detecting system comprises a body, a cover that moves in a range between an open position and a fully-closed position, a detecting unit that detects open state and closed state of the cover, an actuating mechanism equipped to the cover, a part of which is shifted in a first direction according to opening motion and closing motion of the cover, and affects the detecting unit, and a releasing mechanism by which the part of the actuating mechanism is shifted in a second direction when the cover in the open position is brought in a position in adjacent to the fully-closed position and when the cover in the fully-closed position is opened to a predetermined extent to be in the position in adjacent to the fully-closed position.