Flush Card Reader in Scanner Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The protruding card reader in image forming apparatuses is prone to damage during transportation, increases packaging volume, and raises transportation costs, while removing it increases the workload of attachment, detachment, and packing.
Innovation Solution
The card reader is mounted inside the scanner housing in an upstanding posture behind the confronting surface, allowing it to be flush with the housing and preventing protrusion, thus reducing the risk of damage and packaging volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the card reader protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus, then the card reader is easily accessible for user authentication, but the card reader is prone to damage during transportation and increases packaging volume
Solution Approach 1:
The card reader is nested within the scanner housing, positioned in a recessed area that allows it to be flush with the outer surface. This nesting approach protects the card reader during transportation while maintaining user accessibility through the flush-mounted design that aligns with the housing exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
The card reader is repositioned from a side-surface protrusion to an integrated component within the scanner housing's depth dimension. By utilizing the internal space of the scanner housing and positioning the card reader in a recessed area, the design transitions from external protrusion to internal integration, eliminating the protrusion problem while maintaining functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the card reader protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus, then the card reader is easily accessible for user authentication, but the packaging volume and transportation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The card reader is nested within the scanner housing, utilizing the existing internal space rather than adding external volume. This nesting eliminates the need for additional packaging space while maintaining the card reader's accessibility for user authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The card reader is repositioned from an external protrusion that increases packaging volume to an internal component that utilizes the scanner housing's existing depth dimension. This dimensional repositioning eliminates additional packaging requirements while maintaining functionality.
3Reliability
If the card reader is removed from the image forming apparatus in transportation, then damage can be prevented and transportation cost can be reduced, but the workload of attaching, detaching, and packing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card reader is permanently nested within the scanner housing in a recessed position, eliminating the need for attachment and detachment operations. The integrated design allows the card reader to remain protected during transportation without requiring separate packing or removal steps, reducing workload while maintaining damage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The card reader is repositioned from a removable external component to a permanently integrated internal component. This dimensional integration eliminates the need for attachment and detachment operations, reducing packing workload while maintaining the card reader's protection during transportation through its flush-mounted design.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus (1) includes a scanner unit (12U), a scanner housing (12), and a contactless card reader (42). The scanner unit (12U) optically reads an image of an original document to generate image data. The scanner housing (12) accommodates the scanner unit (12U). The card reader (42) has a flat information reading surface (421) and reads information recorded on an information card C. The scanner housing (12) has a confronting surface (12F) that a user confronts. The card reader (42) is mounted inside the scanner housing (12) such that the information reading surface (421) takes an upstanding posture, and is disposed behind the confronting surface (12F) of the scanner housing (12). The confronting surface (12F) of the scanner housing (12) includes a surface (41) that covers the information reading surface (421) and over which a card is held.