Cover Support Shaft Mechanism for Easy Front Cover Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses, such as printers, face difficulties in replacing covers, particularly the front cover, which requires removing the manual feed tray and detaching it from the main body, making the process time-consuming and complex, especially when the printer is already delivered to the user.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a support shaft system that allows the cover to be easily replaced by switching between a fixing and detaching position, enabling the cover to be singly detached from the apparatus main body without removing the manual feed unit, thereby simplifying the replacement process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the manual feed tray is fixed to the front cover to improve positional accuracy, then the positional accuracy of the manual feed tray is improved, but the time required to replace the front cover increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the front cover assembly into separable components: the front cover itself and the manual feed tray. The support shaft mechanism enables the front cover to be detached from the main body independently while the manual feed tray remains attached to the main body structure, allowing the cover to be replaced without removing the tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The support shaft acts as an intermediary mechanism that connects the front cover to the main body in a way that allows selective detachment. It provides a fixing position during normal operation and a detaching position during replacement, mediating between the need for secure attachment and easy replacement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the front cover is made replaceable for recycling purposes, then the recyclability of the apparatus is improved, but the complexity of the replacement process increases when the printer is already delivered to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the front cover to be segmented as a separate replaceable component from the main body and manual feed tray. This segmentation allows the cover to be replaced independently for recycling purposes without requiring complex disassembly of other components, simplifying the replacement process for field service.
Solution Approach 2:
The support shaft provides dynamic positioning, allowing it to switch between a fixing position that secures the cover during operation and a detaching position that enables easy removal. This dynamic mechanism simplifies the replacement process by providing clear operational states rather than requiring complex fastening and unfastening procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus (100) includes an openable and closable cover (52), a movable member (53) disposed in the apparatus main body (101) and to be exposed outside when the cover (52) is opened, an openable and closable support member (55) that supports the movable member (53), and a support shaft (56) that supports the cover (52) and the support member (55). The movable member (53) and the support member (55) is moved as the cover (52) rotates about the support shaft (56). The support shaft (56) can move between a first position where the support shaft (56) supports the cover (52) and the support member (55) and a second position where the support shaft (56) does not support the cover (52) and supports the support member (55). Moving the support shaft (56) to the second position allows the cover (52) to be detached from the apparatus main body (101).