Pivotable Image Forming Casing With Constant Spring Guide Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses experience deformation in components supporting the coil spring due to excessive urging force when the reading device is in the closed state, leading to potential structural damage and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a guide unit with a first and second guide, where the coil springs urge the first guide toward the second guide, maintaining a constant deformation amount and urging force regardless of the device's open or closed state, thereby reducing the risk of deformation and operational strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the coil spring is stretched considerably far when the reading device is in the closed state, then the reading device can be held in the open state, but a large urging force is exerted on the components supporting the coil spring causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The guide unit is divided into a first guide and a second guide, with the coil spring positioned between them. This segmentation allows the urging force to be distributed and controlled, preventing excessive force on any single component while maintaining the reading device in the desired position.
Solution Approach 2:
The first guide and second guide act as intermediaries between the coil spring and the reading device. These guides control and distribute the urging force from the coil spring, preventing direct transmission of excessive force to the device body components and thus preventing deformation.
2Reliability
If the coil spring is mounted to provide sufficient urging force to hold the reading device open, then the reading device can be reliably positioned, but the mounting part of the device body becomes deformed due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The first guide and second guide serve as intermediary structures that mediate between the coil spring's urging force and the device body. They distribute and control the force transmission, ensuring reliable positioning of the reading device while preventing excessive force from deforming the mounting parts of the device body.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit creates a localized structure with specific mechanical properties to handle the urging force. By concentrating the force management function in the guide unit rather than relying on the general device body structure, the mounting parts are protected from deformation while maintaining positioning reliability.
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
This configuration minimizes deformation in the components supporting the coil springs, ensuring consistent urging force and reducing the risk of structural damage, while allowing smooth operation and maintenance without excessive force.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member configured to urge the first guide toward the second guide
Implementation Method 2
a coil spring for urging the other end portion of the arm toward the pivoting axis of the reading device so as to pull the other end portion of the arm
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, an arm, a guide unit, a support part, and an urging member. The second casing is supported on the first casing and configured to pivot relative to the first casing. The arm has a first end portion rotatably coupled to one of the first casing and the second casing and a second end portion slidably coupled to the other of the first casing and the second casing. The guide unit is provided at the other of the first casing and the second casing and configured to slidably guide a shaft. The guide unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The support part supports the first guide such that the first guide is movable toward and away from the second guide. The urging member is configured to urge the first guide toward the second guide.