Movable Air Passage Filter Mounting System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses lack an efficient and user-friendly mechanism for air purification and filter replacement within the device, leading to potential air quality issues and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
An air purifying unit with a cassette and filters that can be easily pulled out and reinserted, utilizing a mounting system involving a guide member and inner cover to ensure filters are properly seated during reinsertion, preventing damage and ensuring continuous air purification performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air passage is made movable between first and second positions for filter access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of incomplete mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system automatically performs the function of securing the filter when the air passage is moved to the first position. The guide member and inner cover work together to self-align and self-secure the filter without requiring separate manual mounting operations, thus improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary component between the air passage and the filter. It mediates the mounting process by guiding the filter into the correct position and ensuring proper engagement when the air passage is moved to the first position, thereby preventing incomplete mounting and improving reliability.
2Ease of repair
If the trapping member is made dismountable for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into distinct functional components: the air passage that moves between positions, the guide member that directs placement, and the inner cover that secures the filter. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, reducing overall complexity while enabling easy filter removal and reinstallation for maintenance.
3Productivity
If the air passage is moved to second position for filter access, then productivity is improved by enabling filter replacement, but loss of time occurs during the positioning operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the filter removal action with the air passage movement to the second position. When the user moves the air passage to access the filter, the filter is automatically released and becomes accessible. This combination eliminates separate steps for filter release and air passage movement, reducing time loss while maintaining high maintenance productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming section, an air passage that is disposed so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, the air passage having an interior through which air is allowed to flow while the air passage is in the first position, a trapping member that is mountably and dismountably disposed in the interior of the air passage, the trapping member trapping an object contained in the air flowing through the interior of the air passage, and a mounting system that mounts the trapping member, which is not completely mounted in the interior of the air passage, in the interior of the air passage by an operation of moving the air passage from the second position to the first position.