Pivoting Cover Fixing Device for Electrophotographic Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the configuration of the fixing device often obstructs maintenance tasks, making it difficult and inefficient to resolve paper jamming or replace components, especially when the sheet feeding passage is located below or above the fixing device.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a body and a cover that pivots on a positioning projection, allowing the cover to move from a closed to a retreated position, improving access and reducing the complexity of maintenance by not requiring detachment and reattachment, and utilizing a heat-resistant resin for the cover to withstand high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the sheet feeding passage is located below the fixing device, then the apparatus structure is compact, but it becomes necessary to move the fixing device to open the sheet feeding passage, making maintenance work complicated and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is divided into a body and a cover that can be separated. The cover is detachably coupled to the body, allowing maintenance personnel to access the sheet feeding passage by removing the cover without moving the entire fixing device, thus resolving the contradiction between compact structure and ease of maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If the sheet feeding passage is located above the fixing device, then access for resolving paper jamming is improved, but the work for replacing the fixing device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cover from the body, the invention allows the cover to be removed independently for accessing the sheet feeding passage, improving ease of operation for paper jamming resolution without complicating the replacement of the main fixing device body.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is extracted as a separate detachable component from the fixing device body. This extraction allows the cover to be removed for maintenance access while the main body remains in place, simplifying the replacement process compared to moving the entire fixing device.
3Productivity
If the cover is made detachable for easy maintenance access, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but the cover may become loose or damaged during repeated attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is equipped with a coupling structure that includes positioning projections and corresponding positioning grooves. This preliminary design of the coupling mechanism ensures proper alignment and secure attachment before maintenance operations begin, preventing loosening and damage during repeated attachment and detachment while maintaining high maintenance efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a body and a cover. The body includes a roller and a positioning projection projecting from the body. The cover is supported on one end side in an axial direction of the roller and has a slot in which the positioning projection is inserted. The cover is configured to pivot on the positioning projection inserted in the slot, from a closed position to a retreated position from the body.