Flexible Flat Cable Routing for Printer Circuit Board Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing configuration of image forming apparatuses with flexible flat cables makes it difficult to install and maintain the recording head and circuit boards, hindering smooth operation and maintenance, and causes noise due to contact with metal sheets.
Innovation Solution
The flexible flat cable is routed below a board mount on the carriage, allowing horizontal mounting of the carriage circuit board and vertical extension to connect with the control circuit board, enabling easier access and installation, and reducing noise by minimizing contact area with metal sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flexible flat cable is vertically extended along the carriage circuit board, then the cable can be connected between the control circuit board and carriage circuit board, but the cable becomes inaccessible from the upper side making installation and maintenance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible flat cable is routed horizontally along the lower surface of the carriage circuit board instead of vertically, changing the dimension of cable extension. This horizontal routing allows the cable to be accessible from the upper side of the image forming apparatus while maintaining electrical connections between the control circuit board and carriage circuit board, resolving the accessibility issue.
2Ease of operation
If the flexible flat cable contacts the metal sheet over a large area, then the cable can be guided and deformed with carriage movement, but noise is generated in the flexible flat cable
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide structure provides localized support only at specific contact points rather than along the entire length of the flexible flat cable. This localized guidance allows the cable to be properly positioned and deformed with carriage movement while minimizing the contact area with the metal sheet, thereby reducing noise generation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the carriage circuit board is mounted on the carriage, then the board can be positioned for signal relay, but maintenance work becomes difficult due to poor accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible flat cable is routed horizontally along the lower surface of the carriage circuit board instead of vertically, changing the dimension of cable extension. This horizontal routing allows the cable to be accessible from the upper side of the image forming apparatus while maintaining electrical connections between the control circuit board and carriage circuit board, resolving the accessibility issue.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a carriage reciprocally movable in a main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus; a recording head mounted on the carriage to eject droplets; a carriage circuit board mounted on the carriage and equipped with a circuit; a control circuit board provided in the image forming apparatus and equipped with a control circuit; a board mount provided in the carriage on which the carriage circuit board is horizontally disposed; and a flexible flat cable connecting the control circuit board and the carriage circuit board and movable in the main scanning direction below the board mount. The flexible flat cable is extended below the carriage circuit board, bent back toward the carriage circuit board, and connected to the carriage circuit board from the main scanning direction.