Image Forming Housing Cover with Temporary Perpendicular Securing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in simplifying the structure for mounting and securing the cover, which hinders efficient workability and operability.

Innovation Solution

A housing structure with a lower housing, an upper housing, and a cover that includes a recessed hand grip on the side surface, where the cover is attached and secured from a direction perpendicular to the side surface using a temporary securing structure, enhancing ease of attachment and securing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover is attached from the direction perpendicular to the side surface of the upper housing, then the workability of attaching and securing the cover is enhanced, but the structure for mounting and securing the cover becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkability of attaching coverVSAvoidstructure for mounting and securing cover
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The securing structure is divided into multiple components: a securing member with a body portion, a fastening portion, and a resilient portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall attachment process more workable while maintaining structural clarity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient portion of the securing member is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt during the attachment process. This dynamic characteristic enables the cover to be securely fastened through elastic deformation when viewed from the perpendicular direction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the cover is fully secured to prevent hand grip holding, then operability is enhanced, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveoperabilityVSAvoidsecuring structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient portion of the securing member automatically engages with the upper housing through elastic deformation, providing self-securing functionality. This self-service mechanism ensures the cover remains firmly attached to prevent hand grip holding without requiring additional complex securing components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The securing member is designed with a curved or rounded geometry that allows it to be inserted from the perpendicular direction and automatically engage with the housing. This curved configuration simplifies the securing structure while maintaining effective coverage of the hand grip area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4305495B1Housing structure and image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4305495B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4305495B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4305495B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A housing structure includes a lower housing, an upper housing, and a cover. The upper housing is mounted on the lower housing and includes a recessed hand grip on a side surface of the upper housing. The cover covers at least a part of the recessed hand grip of the upper housing. The cover is attached and secured to the lower housing from a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the upper housing. The cover includes at least a part of a temporary securing structure between the upper housing and the cover. The temporary securing structure temporarily secures the cover to the upper housing when the cover is attached from the direction perpendicular to the side surface of the upper housing.