Image Forming Apparatus Door Closure Control Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses experience significant impact and noise when the door is closed, especially when the image reading portion is rotated from an open state, due to the lack of effective control over the closing mechanism, leading to uncontrolled door closure.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a supporting member and an urging mechanism to limit and control the closure of the openable member, allowing it to be supported at a predetermined position between open and closed positions, thereby reducing the impact and noise by eliminating sudden closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is allowed to close freely from the fully open position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the impact and noise when the door closes increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damper mechanism that actively dissipates the door's kinetic energy before it reaches the closed position. The damper is integrated into the link mechanism and provides progressive resistance during the closing motion, cushioning the impact before completion of the closing action, thereby reducing both impact force and noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the link mechanism as an intermediary between the door and the closing action. The link mechanism, working in conjunction with the damper, mediates the closing motion by controlling the door's rotational speed and positioning, ensuring that the door closes in a controlled manner rather than freely, thus reducing impact and noise while maintaining operational ease.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the door is supported at the open position by the supporting member, then the stability of the open state is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional limiting mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the supporting function with the existing link mechanism. The link mechanism serves dual purposes: it enables the door to open and close while also providing the supporting function to hold the door at the open position. This integration eliminates the need for separate supporting structures, thereby maintaining stability at the open position without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The link mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: it facilitates door opening, controls closing motion, and provides support at the open position. By making the link mechanism universal and multi-functional, the patent achieves stable door positioning without adding dedicated supporting components, thus avoiding excessive complexity in the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; an image reader movable between a first open position and a first closed position; an openable member movable between a second open position and a second closed position; and a supporting member. When the image reader is located at the first open position, the openable member is supported at the second open position by the supporting member. When the image reader is moved from the supported state toward the first closed position, closing of the openable member from a predetermined position closer to the second closed position than the second open position is limited by the supporting member. When the image reader is moved toward the first closed position from a limited state in which the closing of the openable member is limited by the supporting member, limitation of the openable member by the supporting member is eliminated.