Holder Notch Prevents Contact Terminal Damage During Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses risk damaging contact terminals when a detachable unit without a circuit board is inserted or removed, as the contact terminal can get caught by the holder's tip end, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a notch in the holder's first positioning member allows the contact terminal to pass through when the detachable unit without a circuit board is withdrawn, preventing contact with the holder's tip end and thus avoiding damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a detachable unit without a circuit board is inserted or removed, then the operation is simple and quick, but the contact terminal may get caught by the holder's tip end and be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the contact terminal and the holder. The guide member has a guide section that extends in the insertion/removal direction and a tip end positioned beyond the holder's tip end. This guide member acts as a mediator that guides the contact terminal during insertion and removal operations, preventing the contact terminal from getting caught by the holder's tip end while maintaining simple and quick operations.
2Reliability
If the contact terminal is positioned to engage with the electrode terminal, then electrical connection is achieved, but the contact terminal may be caught by the holder when no circuit board is present
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a protective intermediary that extends beyond the holder's tip end. During insertion and removal operations, the guide section of the guide member guides the contact terminal, ensuring it engages properly with the electrode terminal when a circuit board is present while preventing it from being caught by the holder when no circuit board is present. This resolves the conflict between maintaining reliable electrical connection and preventing contact terminal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is positioned beforehand to extend beyond the holder's tip end in the insertion direction. This prior positioning creates a protective buffer zone that prevents the contact terminal from being caught by the holder during operations, cushioning against potential damage before it can occur.
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
Ensures the contact terminal on the apparatus main body remains undamaged even when a detachable unit without a circuit board is inserted or removed, enhancing the safety and reliability of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
the contact terminal in its initial state (non-pressed state) meets a part on the front end side of the holder of the detachable unit and is pushed down. When the insertion is completed, the contact terminal held in the holder is in the pressed state and is kept in contact with the electrode terminal of the circuit board by its elastic restoring force.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a contact terminal (102), and a detachable unit (20) including a holder (210) for holding a circuit board (200) having an electrode terminal (201) which comes into contact with the contact terminal (102). A state of the detachable unit (20) is changed to an attached state by inserting it in an insertion direction, and is changed to a detached state by withdrawing the detachable unit (20) in a withdrawal direction. The holder (210) includes a first positioning member (213) for positioning a tip end (200a) of the circuit board (200) in the insertion direction when the detachable unit (20) holding the circuit board (200) in the holder (210) is slid in the insertion direction. The first positioning member (213) includes a notch (215) configured so that the contact terminal (102) passes through the notch (215) when the detachable unit (20) not holding the circuit board (200) in the holder (210) in the attached state is slid in the withdrawal direction.