Printer Housing Slider Mechanism for Spring-Assisted Assembly

Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of image forming apparatuses, such as printers, is cumbersome due to the need to overcome the spring force of arm springs, requiring labor to attach these components during the assembly process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a slider and elastic member that applies a force to move the slider closer to the connecting portion, facilitating the assembly by reducing the effort required to attach the arm spring to the arm and supporting member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the arm spring is attached while the supporting member is kept in the separate state, then the arm spring can maintain the supporting member in the separate state, but labor is required to pull the arm spring against its spring force during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to maintain supporting member in separate stateVSAvoidassembly work

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arm spring is attached to the arm and supporting member in advance, before the supporting member is installed on the main body. This preliminary attachment allows the spring to be pre-positioned and secured, eliminating the need to overcome its spring force during the main assembly process. The spring is attached in a relaxed state, and its engagement features (such as hooks or loops) are designed to automatically engage with corresponding features on the arm and supporting member without requiring forceful installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the arm spring is attached after the supporting member is installed, then assembly is simpler, but the arm spring cannot maintain the supporting member in the separate state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly workVSAvoidability to maintain supporting member in separate state

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The arm spring is attached to the arm and supporting member in advance, before the supporting member is installed on the main body. This preliminary attachment allows the spring to be pre-positioned and secured, eliminating the need to overcome its spring force during the main assembly process. The spring is attached in a relaxed state, and its engagement features (such as hooks or loops) are designed to automatically engage with corresponding features on the arm and supporting member without requiring forceful installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the arm spring is made with strong spring force, then the supporting member can be reliably kept in the separate state, but more labor is required to attach the arm spring during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to keep supporting member in separate stateVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The arm spring is attached to the arm and supporting member in advance, before the supporting member is installed on the main body. This preliminary attachment allows the spring to be pre-positioned and secured, eliminating the need to overcome its spring force during the main assembly process. The spring is attached in a relaxed state, and its engagement features (such as hooks or loops) are designed to automatically engage with corresponding features on the arm and supporting member without requiring forceful installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The arm serves as an intermediary component between the arm spring and the supporting member. The arm spring is attached to the arm, which then connects to the supporting member. This intermediary arrangement allows the spring to be attached in a controlled manner during assembly, and the arm acts as a lever that can be manually positioned to engage the spring's engagement features with the supporting member without requiring direct forceful attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design simplifies the assembly process by reducing the labor needed to attach the arm spring, making the assembly of the printer more efficient and easier to handle.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member comprising a first engaging portion engaging with the slider and a second engaging portion engaging with the one of the first housing and the second housing, wherein the elastic member is configured to apply, to the slider, a force in a direction in which the slider moves closer to the connecting portion along the slide moving direction in which the slider slidingly moves, when the second housing is in the close position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9116500B2Image forming apparatus having two housings and method for assembling the same

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing pivotable relative to the first housing in such a manner as to be located to an open position and a close position, a slider provided in one of the first and second housings configured to be slidable relative to the one in a slide moving direction, a connecting portion provided in the other of the housings; an arm member configured to connected each of the slider and the connecting portion to be pivotable relative to each of them, and an elastic member comprising a first engaging portion engaging with the slider and a second engaging portion engaging with the one of the housings. The elastic member applies, to the slider, a force in a direction in which the slider moves closer to the connecting portion, when the second housing is in the close position.