Optical Scanner Casing with Stacking Engagement Features

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional optical scanner casings require precise installation of optical elements, leading to increased transportation costs due to the need for individual packaging and space-efficient stacking during transport to prevent damage and collisions.

Innovation Solution

A casing design with a bottomed box shape and engaging protruding parts on the sidewall, allowing for multi-stage stacking and connection via connection leg parts with engaged holes, enabling efficient space utilization and protection during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If casings are packaged individually to protect optical element installation surfaces, then protection of optical elements is improved, but transportation cost increases due to reduced space utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of optical elementsVSAvoidtransportation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple casings are merged into a single packaging unit by stacking them together. The casings are equipped with engagement protrusions and engagement recesses that allow them to be mechanically connected and stacked vertically, forming a compact assembly that protects all optical elements while optimizing space utilization during transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of energy

If casings are stacked during transportation, then space utilization is improved, but risk of collision and damage to optical elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation costVSAvoidprotection of optical elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The casing design incorporates engagement protrusions and engagement recesses that create mechanical interlocking when casings are stacked. This pre-designed connection mechanism prevents unintended movement and collision between stacked casings during transportation, providing protective cushioning before damage can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If precise optical element installation surfaces are formed inside casings, then optical performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and transportation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical element installation surface precisionVSAvoidcasing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical scanning device is segmented into multiple independent casings, each containing a complete optical system. This segmentation allows each casing to be manufactured with precise optical surfaces independently, then stacked and transported as standardized units, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3521895B1Casing of optical scanning device
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3521895B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3521895B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3521895B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An optical scanning device includes a casing (31). The casing (31) can be stacked in a plurality of stages in a state in which a lid member (32) has been removed, and includes a connection leg part (31e) extending from a predetermined position of the outside surface of a sidewall part (31b) to a lower side of a lower surface of the casing (31), and the connection leg part (31e) is provided with an engaged part (31g) for connection which is engaged with an engaging part (31d) formed at a sidewall part (31b) of another casing (31) when the casing (31) is stacked on an upper side of the other casing (31).