Nested Medium Support Arms for Compact Reading Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium support devices and reading devices face challenges in size reduction, particularly with auxiliary arms that require improvement in terms of compactness.
Innovation Solution
A medium support device with a medium support portion and an extension support portion that includes first and second extension portions, which can be displaced between stored and extended states, utilizing gears and elastic deformation portions to minimize occupied space, and a reading device incorporating this support device to enhance compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If auxiliary arms are extended to support medium, then medium support capability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first extension portion is stored inside the medium support portion, and the second extension portion is stored inside the first extension portion. This nested arrangement allows the extension portions to be compact when not in use, reducing the overall device volume while maintaining the capability to extend for medium support when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portions are designed to be movable between stored and extended states through rotational and sliding motions. This dynamic configuration allows the device to adapt its support capability based on operational needs, providing medium support when required while maintaining a compact form when the extension portions are retracted.
2Volume of moving object
If extension portions are made telescopic to reduce size, then device compactness is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extension support portion is divided into multiple segments (first extension portion and second extension portion) that can move independently. Each segment has its own driving mechanism (rotation for the first, sliding for the second), which simplifies the control of each individual component while achieving overall compactness through their coordinated telescopic motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested structure organizes the complex telescopic mechanism in a hierarchical manner, with the second extension portion nested within the first, and both nested within the medium support portion. This nesting simplifies the spatial arrangement of the complex structural elements and facilitates compact storage while maintaining the necessary degrees of freedom for each segment.
3Ease of operation
If gears are positioned at end portions of extension portions, then rotational control is improved, but device width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gears are positioned along the longitudinal axis of the extension portions rather than at the lateral ends. This repositioning moves the rotational control mechanism from the width dimension to the length dimension, maintaining effective rotational control while reducing the device width and achieving a more compact overall form.
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
The solution achieves a significant reduction in size and improves operability by optimizing the arrangement and displacement of extension portions, allowing for efficient use of space and user-friendly operation.
Implementation Method 1
a left-side gear that is located at a base end of the first left-side extension portion, forms a left-side rotation fulcrum of the first left-side extension portion, and is engaged with the right-side gear
Implementation Method 2
utilizing gears and elastic deformation portions to minimize occupied space
Data Source
AI summary
A second right-side extension portion entirely overlaps with a first right-side extension portion in a stored state when viewed in a depth direction, and a second left-side extension portion entirely overlaps a first left-side extension portion in a stored state when viewed in the depth direction. Moreover, a right-side gear is provided so as to be located between a right-side first end portion and a right-side second end portion of the first right-side extension portion, and a left-side gear is provided so as to be located between a left-side first end portion and a left-side second end portion of the first left-side extension portion.