Pivotable Cover Movable Member Mechanism for Compact LED Head Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses require significant space for opening and closing the top cover with LED heads, which interferes with surrounding structural elements, making them less compact.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism featuring a pivotable cover with a movable member and supporting mechanism, where the movable member extends at an angle and is supported to move relative to the cover, allowing the LED heads to open and close without interfering with other components, minimizing space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the top cover is designed to pivot open and close with LED heads mounted on it, then the LED heads can be easily mounted and dismounted, but a large space is required which interferes with surrounding structural elements
Solution Approach 1:
The LED head holder is designed to be movable relative to the cover in the longitudinal direction, allowing dynamic adjustment of the LED head position. This enables the cover to pivot open and close while the LED heads can move to accommodate the changing spatial requirements, reducing interference with surrounding structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism is divided into separate components: the cover, the holder, and the LED heads. The holder can move independently along the longitudinal direction, allowing the LED heads to be positioned optimally during both mounted and dismounted states, thereby reducing the space required for cover movement.
2Ease of operation
If the top cover pivots with a large radius to avoid interference, then smooth opening and closing is achieved, but the apparatus becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The holder's ability to move in the longitudinal direction allows for a smaller pivot radius of the cover. As the cover pivots, the LED heads can adjust their position dynamically, maintaining smooth operation while reducing the overall volume required for the moving parts.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a cover configured to pivot about a shaft to open and close, and a mechanism that includes a movable member and a supporting mechanism. The movable member longitudinally extends in a direction at an angle with the shaft, and includes a first longitudinal end portion and a second longitudinal end portion, the first longitudinal end portion being closer to the shaft than the second longitudinal end portion. The supporting mechanism is mounted on the cover and supports the movable member so that the movable member is movable relative to the cover toward and away from the shaft. When an external force pushes the second longitudinal end portion toward the shaft, the movable member moves to a first position, and when the external force is removed, the movable member returns.