Printer Casing Receiving Wall for Liquid Spill Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser printers are prone to electrical short-circuits and malfunctions when liquid spills onto the body case, causing the circuit board and image-forming components to become wet.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a casing with a receiving unit that includes a slanted receiving wall positioned below a gap between two frames, directing any spilled liquid away from the circuit board and image-forming unit, ensuring it flows into a collection area rather than penetrating the main casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the casing is designed with seams or junctures for assembly, then the device can be manufactured and assembled, but liquid can penetrate through these seams into the body case
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving unit acts as an intermediary structure positioned between the external environment and the internal components. It intercepts liquid at the receiving wall before the liquid can reach the circuit board and image-forming unit, thus mediating the harmful effect of liquid penetration while maintaining the casing's assembly structure
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving unit is positioned to preemptively counteract liquid penetration before it can harm the internal components. The receiving wall creates a barrier that stops liquid flow in advance, preventing the harmful effect from reaching the circuit board and image-forming unit
2Quantity of substance
If the receiving wall is positioned to receive liquid, then liquid can be collected, but the circuit board and image-forming unit may still become wet from liquid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving unit serves as an intermediary that captures and contains liquid flow, preventing it from reaching the circuit board and image-forming unit. The receiving wall specifically acts as the intermediary barrier that redirects liquid into the receiving unit while protecting the internal components
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful liquid is extracted from the potential flow path by the receiving unit. The receiving wall intercepts liquid and extracts it from the trajectory that would otherwise lead to the circuit board and image-forming unit, isolating the harmful substance in a dedicated collection area
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 effectively prevents the circuit board and image-forming components from getting wet, thereby preventing electrical short-circuits and malfunctions, while also facilitating efficient liquid collection and dissipation within the printer.
Implementation Method 1
The receiving wall being slanted downward toward the second frame
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an image-forming unit, a circuit board for controlling operations of the image-forming unit, a receiving unit for receiving liquid entering into the casing. The casing includes: a wall portion constituting a top surface and positioned upward of the image-forming unit; a first frame supporting the circuit board; and a second frame opposing the first frame in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a vertical direction. The wall portion includes a first member and a second member positioned adjacent to each other to provide a first gap therebetween. The image-forming unit is disposed between the first frame and the second frame. The receiving unit is positioned below the first gap and includes a receiving wall for receiving the liquid entering into the casing through the first gap, the receiving wall being slanted downward toward the second frame.