Flexible Flat Cable Grounding Guide for Image Formers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromagnetic wave noise from flexible flat cables in image forming apparatuses causes instability and poor image forming, as the rear plate and cable are not reliably in contact, leading to noise emission.
Innovation Solution
A guide member is used to curve the flexible flat cable toward the side surface, ensuring it contacts the grounded metal rear plate, reducing electromagnetic wave noise by maintaining contact and grounding the cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the flexible flat cable is arranged near the rear plate, then the cable can be routed compactly, but the cable and rear plate are not reliably in contact, causing electromagnetic wave noise emission
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the flexible flat cable and the rear plate. The guide member has a curved surface that actively guides the cable to maintain reliable contact with the grounded rear plate, ensuring electromagnetic shielding while managing cable routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member features a curved surface that follows the contour of the rear plate. This curvature enables the flexible flat cable to be guided along the curved path, ensuring continuous contact with the grounded surface for effective electromagnetic noise suppression.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flexible flat cable is kept away from the rear plate, then electromagnetic wave noise is reduced, but the cable routing becomes less efficient and space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface of the guide member allows the cable to conform to the rear plate's contour, maximizing contact area while minimizing the space occupied by the cable routing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed to actively guide the flexible cable, adapting to its natural flexibility while maintaining contact with the rear plate, thus optimizing space utilization without compromising electromagnetic shielding.
3Ease of manufacture
If the flexible flat cable is allowed to move freely, then ease of installation is improved, but contact reliability with the rear plate deteriorates, leading to noise emission
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a mediator that maintains reliable contact between the cable and rear plate without restricting the cable's natural flexibility or complicating the installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved surface of the guide member passively guides the flexible cable into proper contact with the rear plate through the cable's own flexibility, requiring minimal adjustment during installation while ensuring reliable contact.
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 configuration effectively reduces electromagnetic wave noise, stabilizing the image forming process and improving image quality by ensuring reliable contact between the flexible flat cable and the grounded rear plate.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible flat cable extending from the optical scanning apparatus toward a control unit is sometimes arranged near the rear plate... the rear plate and the flexible flat cable are not maintained in a state of being reliably in contact with each other. Thus, electromagnetic wave noise can be emitted from the flexible flat cable
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement is therefore employed in which a flexible flat cable is guided by a guide member situated at a position facing a metal rear plate and the flexible flat cable extending from a connector to the metal rear plate is brought into contact with a wall portion of the metal rear plate so that the flexible flat cable is grounded.