Image Reading Apparatus Driving Source Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image reading apparatuses face limitations in layout flexibility due to the close arrangement of the first and second driving devices, such as motors and gears, on one side of the document feeder, which restricts the capacity for these components and hinders their free arrangement.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus is designed with a first housing that accommodates the conveyance guide and conveyer, allowing the first and second driving sources and their respective driving trains to be arranged more freely on opposite sides, enhancing layout flexibility and accommodating the heavier first driving source and train on one side and the lighter second driving source and train on the other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the first driving device and second driving device are arranged closely on one side of the conveyance guide, then the device structure is compact, but the layout freedom is limited and substantial capacity for the driving components cannot be reserved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the driving component arrangement into two separate regions: one side of the conveyance guide accommodates the first driving device (for conveyer operation), while the other side accommodates the second driving device (for feed tray movement). This segmentation allows each driving device to have adequate space and layout freedom without compromising overall compactness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the first driving source and second driving source are arranged on opposite sides of the conveyance guide, then the layout freedom is improved and capacity is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first driving source and second driving source into a single housing structure, where both driving sources and their respective driving trains are accommodated together. This combining approach simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining the layout freedom benefits of opposite-side arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus, including a feed tray, a conveyance guide, a conveyer, a reading sensor, a first housing, a first driving source, a first driving train, a second driving source, and a second driving train, is provided. The first housing accommodates at least the conveyance guide and the conveyer and has a first outer face and a second outer face facing opposite to each other in a widthwise direction. The first driving source and the first driving train are accommodated in the first housing on a side toward the first outer face. The first driving train transmits a driving force from the first driving source to the conveyer. The second driving source and the second driving train are accommodated in the first housing on a side toward the second outer face. The second driving train transmits a driving force from the second driving source to the movable plate.