Pivotable Drive Control Board for Image Forming Apparatus Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses have poor workability for operators when performing maintenance on drive units, as these units are hidden by electric component boards, making access time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed with a frame body and electric component units that can pivot, allowing the operator to access the drive unit without removing other components, thereby improving workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the drive control board is arranged between the drive unit and the controller box to reduce bundle wire length, then the length of the bundle wire is reduced, but the drive unit becomes hidden and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drive control board is made pivotable about a pivot axis, allowing it to rotate between a closed state (positioned between the drive unit and controller box) and an opened state (rotated toward the controller box side). This dynamic positioning enables the board to reduce wire length during operation while allowing full access to the drive unit during maintenance without permanent obstruction.
2Reliability
If the drive control board is fixed in position to maintain stable connection, then connection stability is improved, but access to the drive unit becomes difficult and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable design allows the drive control board to transition between stable connected positions (reducing maintenance time) and accessible positions (improving connection stability during operation). The board can be rotated to the opened state during maintenance and returned to the closed state after maintenance, maintaining both reliability and efficiency.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple electric component boards are arranged in layered manner to optimize space, then space utilization is improved, but access to deeper components requires removing upper components
Solution Approach 1:
The drive control board's pivotability allows it to be moved out of the way toward the controller box side during maintenance, providing direct access to the drive unit without requiring removal of the board. After maintenance, the board is rotated back to its original position, maintaining the compact layered arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material includes a frame body, an image forming unit, a first electric component unit, a first electric component board, a second electric component unit, and a second electric component board. The second electric component board communicates with the first electric component board and controls the image forming unit. The first electric component unit pivots about a first pivot axis positioned on a first side in a width direction. The second electric component unit pivots about a second pivot axis positioned on a second side in the width direction. When the first electric component unit and the second electric component unit are in closed states, the second electric component unit is positioned between the first electric component unit and the image forming unit in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus.