Flexible Flat Cable Regulating Member for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible flat cables (FFCs) connecting image reading and forming units in multi-functional peripherals often experience excessive cable length, leading to stress and potential disconnection or damage near the control circuit board connectors.
Innovation Solution
A regulating member, such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet with a concavo-convex shape, is attached to the FFC to regulate its length between a slit in the image forming unit and the connector, preventing extra cable length and reducing stress on the FFC and connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the FFC wiring path is shortened to connect the image reading unit and image forming unit, then the cable length becomes excessive and generates extra portions, but this causes stress to be applied to the FFC near the connector, leading to disconnection or damage
Solution Approach 1:
A regulating member is introduced as an intermediary element between the FFC and the image forming unit. This regulating member has a regulating portion that contacts the FFC to limit its movement range, and a guiding portion that guides the FFC into the connector. The regulating member acts as a mediator that prevents the FFC from having excessive length while avoiding stress concentration near the connector, thus resolving the contradiction between cable length and connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating member is designed as a thin film structure with specific geometric features (regulating portion and guiding portion). This thin film structure provides the necessary mechanical constraint to the FFC while maintaining flexibility, allowing the FFC to be properly positioned and secured without creating stress points that would lead to disconnection or damage
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image reading unit disposed on the image forming unit, a first control circuit board mounted on the image reading unit, a second control circuit board mounted on the image forming unit, a flexible flat cable, a slit, and a regulating member. The flexible flat cable transfers image data from the first control circuit board to the second control circuit board and has one end connected to the first control circuit board and another end connected to the second control circuit board. The slit is formed in the image forming unit such that the flexible flat cable passes through. The regulating member regulates a length of the flexible flat cable between the slit and the second connector, is attached at a predetermined position of the flexible flat cable, and abuts against the image forming unit.