Push Latch Locking Structure Prevents Unintended Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking structures for opening and closing bodies in electronic devices, such as image forming apparatuses, often unintentionally release the lock when the opening and closing body is pushed, leading to unintended operation disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A locking structure that includes a push latch device and a restricting body, where the engaging body protrudes to lock the opening and closing body at the closed position and prevents movement in the pushing direction by interfering with the protruding body of the restricting body, ensuring the lock remains engaged even when the opening and closing body is pushed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push latch device is used to lock the opening and closing body, then the locking mechanism can be operated by pressing the engaging body, but the lock may be unintentionally released when the opening and closing body is pushed
Solution Approach 1:
The opening and closing body is divided into two functional regions: an operating body portion for intentional locking operations and another portion that is restricted from moving during locking. This segmentation allows the latch to respond only to deliberate user actions while ignoring accidental pushes, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and locking stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A restricting body is introduced that proactively prevents unintended movement of the opening and closing body in the pushing direction. This preliminary restriction counteracts potential harmful pushes before they can trigger unintended latch release, thereby maintaining reliable locking while preserving intentional operability.
2Ease of operation
If the opening and closing body is made movable for opening and closing operations, then the device can be accessed, but unintended pushing may cause operational disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The opening and closing body is segmented into an operating body portion that maintains full movability for intended operations and a restricted portion that prevents unintended movement. This allows normal opening and closing functionality while blocking harmful unintended pushes from affecting the locking state.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting body acts as an intermediary element between the opening and closing body and the push latch device. It mediates by allowing intentional movements to pass through while blocking unintended pushes, preventing operational disruptions without interfering with normal device access.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking structure for an opening and closing body includes an opening and closing body that is supported to be movable between an open position where an opening formed in a device main body is opened and a closed position where the opening is closed and a push latch device that is disposed in the device main body, locks the opening and closing body at the closed position as an engaging body, which is provided on the opening and closing body to protrude in a pushing direction, pushes in a latch body, and releases locking of the opening and closing body to push out the opening and closing body in an opposite direction to the pushing direction in a case where the engaging body is further pushed in at the closed position. Even in a case where the opening and closing body is pushed at the closed position in the pushing direction, the opening and closing body does not move, and the push latch device is held in a locked state.