Detachable Drive Unit Rear Frame Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the drive unit due to interference from component members and limited accessibility, which degrades maintainability and increases the risk of heat influence.

Innovation Solution

The drive unit is detachably disposed on the inner surface of the rear-side frame member, facing outward from the image forming apparatus body, allowing for easier maintenance and avoiding interference with internal components by using a support member and securing mechanisms such as screws or pawl engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the drive unit is disposed on the inner surface of the rear-side frame member, then maintainability is improved, but interference with component members occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaintainabilityVSAvoidinterference with component members

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drive unit is disposed on the inner surface of the rear-side frame member, utilizing the depth dimension of the apparatus rather than only the lateral or vertical surfaces. This dimensional repositioning allows maintenance access from the front while separating the drive unit from interfering component members in the lateral direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The rear-side frame member acts as an intermediary structure that hosts the drive unit on its inner surface, creating a spatial buffer between the drive unit and other component members. This intermediary positioning resolves the interference issue while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the drive unit is disposed on the outer surface of the rear-side frame member, then interference with component members is avoided, but maintainability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference with component membersVSAvoidmaintainability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the drive unit on the outer lateral surface, the invention moves it to the inner surface of the rear-side frame member, utilizing the depth dimension to achieve both non-interference and maintainability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If component members are densely disposed on the rear-side frame member, then space utilization is improved, but accessibility for maintenance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedensity of component membersVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rear-side frame member is functionally segmented into different zones: the inner surface hosts the drive unit for accessibility, while other component members are disposed on the outer surface or in different spatial regions. This segmentation allows dense packing overall while maintaining access to critical maintenance components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10317818B2Image forming apparatus including detachably disposed drive unit

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 SHARP KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a rear-side frame member that is disposed on the rear side of an image forming apparatus body so as to extend in a vertical or substantially vertical direction; and a drive unit that includes a drive part. The drive unit is detachably disposed on an inner surface of the rear-side frame member such that the drive part faces outward from the image forming apparatus body.