Door Latch Mechanism with Floatable Spring Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch mechanisms for opening/closing doors in devices, such as image forming devices, face issues with increased tolerance accumulation, leading to impaired operability due to the elastic deformation of latch members, which affects the latch force and operation force.
Innovation Solution
A latch mechanism is introduced that includes an elastic component with a spring member and a holder, allowing for elastic deformation and floatability, combined with a latch component that pinches or spreads the elastic component to restrain it, thereby reducing the impact of tolerance errors and maintaining consistent operation force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If elastically deformable latch members are used for both the opening/closing door and device body, then the latch mechanism can accommodate misalignment and facilitate assembly, but tolerance accumulation increases leading to impaired operability
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is divided into two functional parts: a non-elastic latch member (arm) and an elastic component (spring member with holder). The latch member provides stable positioning without elastic deformation, while the elastic component separately absorbs misalignment. This segmentation prevents tolerance accumulation in the latch function while maintaining assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic component acts as an intermediary between the latch member and the door/body structure. It absorbs dimensional variations and misalignment through elastic deformation, allowing the non-elastic latch member to maintain precise engagement without being affected by tolerance accumulation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If elastically deformable latch members are used for both the opening/closing door and device body, then the latch mechanism can accommodate misalignment, but the latch force and operation force become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is divided into two functional parts: a non-elastic latch member (arm) and an elastic component (spring member with holder). The latch member provides stable positioning without elastic deformation, while the elastic component separately absorbs misalignment. This segmentation prevents tolerance accumulation in the latch function while maintaining assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
Elasticity is localized only to the elastic component (spring member and holder), while the latch member maintains rigid, non-elastic properties. This localized elasticity allows misalignment accommodation without affecting the consistency of latch force, as the rigid latch member ensures uniform engagement.
3Manufacturing precision
If elastic components with floatable holders are used, then tolerance errors are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed to change its position parameter dynamically along the guide groove, allowing floatable movement that automatically compensates for tolerance errors. This parameter change approach reduces the need for tight manufacturing tolerances without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic component acts as an intermediary between the latch member and the door/body structure. It absorbs dimensional variations and misalignment through elastic deformation, allowing the non-elastic latch member to maintain precise engagement without being affected by tolerance accumulation.
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
The proposed latch mechanism effectively reduces the impact of tolerance errors, ensuring consistent latch force and operation force, thereby enhancing the operability and reliability of the opening/closing door mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
having a spring member expanding/contracting to be elastically deformable in one predetermined direction
Implementation Method 2
having a latch member restraining the elastic component in a state where the spring member is elastically deformed from an initial state
Data Source
AI summary
A latch mechanism of an opening/closing door, which is used in a device including an opening/closing door that opens/closes an opening of a device body by using the opening/closing door, restrains the opening/closing door at a closing position, and releases a restrained state when the opening/closing door is opened, the latch mechanism includes an elastic component provided in one of the opening/closing door and the device body facing the opening, having a spring member expanding/contracting to be elastically deformable in one predetermined direction, and holding both end positions of the spring member to be floatable via a holder, and a latch component provided in the other of the opening/closing door and the device body, coming into contact with the holder of the elastic component when the opening/closing door closes the opening, having a latch member restraining the elastic component in a state where the spring member is elastically deformed from an initial state, and moving the holder against a biasing force of the spring member to release the restrained state between the elastic component and the latch member when the opening/closing door is opened from the closing position.