Image Reading Apparatus Pivoting Damping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in damping the pivoting motion of heavier pivoting bodies, leading to increased size and operational issues when trying to provide adequate damping without enlarging the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus incorporates a first damping portion for the discharge tray's opening direction and a second damping portion for the upper unit's closing direction, with the upper unit engaging with the first damping portion, allowing for effective damping while reducing the size of the second damping portion and improving operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large damper is used to provide high damping effect to the heavier upper unit, then the damping performance is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping functions by having the upper unit engage with the first damping portion (designed for the discharge tray) during closing motion. This allows the upper unit to utilize the damping force from the discharge tray's damper in addition to its own damper, effectively combining damping resources to handle the heavier upper unit without requiring a disproportionately large damper for it alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The first damping portion serves dual purposes: it damps the discharge tray's opening motion (its primary function) and also provides damping force to the upper unit during closing motion (secondary function). This multi-functionality allows a single damping component to contribute to multiple damping needs within the system.
2Reliability
If separate dampers are provided for each pivoting body, then the damping effect for each body is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the damping system into a more integrated configuration where the upper unit engages with the discharge tray's damping portion during closing. This reduces the number of independent damping components while maintaining effective damping for both the discharge tray and upper unit through coordinated operation.
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
This configuration reliably damps the pivoting of the upper unit while minimizing the size of the damping components, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the overall apparatus size.
Implementation Method 1
a first damping portion that damps pivoting of the discharge tray in at least an opening direction
Implementation Method 2
a second damping portion that damps pivoting of the upper unit in at least a closing direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a lower unit, and a discharge tray and an upper unit that pivot with respect to the lower unit. An axis center of the discharge tray and an axis center of the upper unit are common, the image reading apparatus includes a first damping portion that damps pivoting of the discharge tray in at least an opening direction, and a second damping portion that damps pivoting of the upper unit in at least a closing direction, and the upper unit is configured to engage with the first damping portion, and, when the upper unit is closed from a state in which at least the discharge tray and the upper unit are opened, in addition to a damping force of the second damping portion, a damping force of the first damping portion is applied to the upper unit.