Door Speed Control Groove for Low-Impact Printer Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing door opening and closing mechanisms in image forming apparatuses cause a high impact when the door is opened to a fully open position, leading to deformation of the printing medium conveying belt and transfer units, resulting in color registration errors and deteriorated printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A door opening and closing unit with a door speed control unit that controls the rotating speed of the door by adjusting the frictional force between a coupling boss and a guide groove, gradually reducing the speed as the door rotates from a closed to a fully open position, using a guide groove with varying width and a frictional member to manage the rotational speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the door is opened quickly to enable easy removal of jammed printing medium or replacement of developing devices, then the operation efficiency is improved, but the door rotates at high speed and causes large impact when stopping, leading to deformation of the printing medium conveying belt and transfer units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a damping member that is pre-positioned to absorb impact energy when the door stops. The damping member is arranged between the door and the main body, and when the door rotates to the fully open position, the damping member deforms to cushion the impact, preventing deformation of the printing medium conveying belt and transfer units while allowing quick door opening for maintenance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the door opening and closing mechanism adjustable. The damping force can be adjusted according to different operating conditions, allowing the door to open quickly when needed while controlling the stopping speed to prevent impact. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fast opening for productivity and precise stopping for manufacturing precision
2Stability of the object's composition
If the door is made heavy to support the printing medium conveying belt and transfer units, then the structural stability is improved, but the impact when the door stops suddenly is increased, causing deformation of attached components
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member is pre-installed in the door opening and closing mechanism to cushion the impact before it reaches the printing medium conveying belt and transfer units. This beforehand cushioning allows the door to maintain its heavy structure for stability while preventing the harmful impact force from damaging the attached components
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member acts as an intermediary between the heavy door and the sensitive components (printing medium conveying belt and transfer units). It absorbs and dissipates the impact energy, preventing the direct transmission of harmful forces from the heavy door to the delicate components, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and harmful impact forces
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
This solution minimizes the impact applied to the door and attached components, preventing deformation and improving printing quality by gradually reducing the door's rotating speed, thus reducing color registration errors and maintaining print quality.
Implementation Method 1
a door speed control unit coupling the door to the main body, including a coupling boss; and a guide groove that engages the coupling boss and along which the coupling boss moves as the door rotates relative to the main body; wherein the door speed control unit controls a frictional force between the coupling boss and the guide groove according to a rotating angle of the door relative to the main body to control a rotating speed of the door
Data Source
AI summary
A door opening and closing unit is provided for an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, and a door rotatably mounted on the main body. The door opening and closing unit includes a door speed control unit coupling the door to the main body that includes a coupling boss; and a guide groove that engages the coupling boss and along which the coupling boss moves as the door rotates relative to the main body; wherein the door speed control unit controls a frictional force between the coupling boss and the guide groove according to a rotating angle of the door relative to the main body to control a rotating speed of the door as the door rotates relative to the main body.