Movable Handle Holder for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electro-photographic image forming apparatuses, providing a handle on the rear wall of a holder to facilitate easy removal can cause interference with the intermediate transfer belt, leading to potential damage during installation.
Innovation Solution
A holder design with a first handle unit on the front and a second handle unit on the rear, where the second handle unit is movable between a protrusion and retreat position, and an interfered portion that interacts with the apparatus main body to prevent contact with the belt, ensuring the second handle unit is in the retreat position before reaching the belt during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handle is provided on the rear wall side of the holder to facilitate easy removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the belt may be damaged by the handle during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The second handle unit is designed to be movable between a protrusion position and a retreat position. During holder installation, the interfered portion engages with the apparatus main body to force the second handle unit into the retreat position, preventing it from damaging the belt. When the holder is removed, the handle can be in the protrusion position for easy gripping. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and belt protection.
2Ease of operation
If a handle is provided on the rear wall side of the holder, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the movable mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is segmented into multiple functional components: a first handle unit fixed on the front wall, a second handle unit that is movable on the rear wall, and an interfered portion that interacts with the apparatus main body. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific function - the first handle for initial engagement, the second handle for easy removal, and the interfered portion for controlling the second handle's position during installation. The segmented design manages complexity by distributing functions across separate components rather than creating a single complex mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes plural photosensitive drums; a belt which opposes the photosensitive drums; and a holder which collectively holds the photosensitive drums, and is movable between an outer position and an inner position. The holder includes a first handle unit which is provided at an upstream side, a second handle unit which is provided separately from the first handle unit at a downstream side, and an interfered portion which interferes with an apparatus main body. The second handle unit is movable between a protrusion position where the second handle unit protrudes from a top portion of the photosensitive drums and a retreat position where the second handle unit retreats therebelow. The interfered portion interferes with the apparatus main body to cause the second handle unit to be displaced from the protrusion position to the retreat position when the holder is mounted in the apparatus main body.