Resin Frame Mold Opening Direction for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal frames in image forming apparatuses are costly, limit size and weight reduction, and pose challenges in molding resin frames with guide portions that extend in the insertion direction, leading to issues with mold structure, cost, position accuracy, and ease of operation.
Innovation Solution
A resin frame with a base and side plate portion integrally molded from resin, where the mold opening direction is set parallel to an orthogonal direction, reducing mold sliding distance and simplifying the mold structure, while securing strength and maintaining position accuracy and ease of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If a resin frame is used instead of metal frame, then cost is reduced and weight is reduced, but strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses resin as a composite material to create the frame structure. By optimizing the resin molding process and structural design, the frame achieves sufficient strength while maintaining the weight and cost advantages of resin over metal materials.
2Device complexity
If the mold opening direction is set parallel to the insertion direction to simplify mold structure, then the mold structure is simplified, but position accuracy decreases due to draft angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by setting the mold opening direction parallel to the orthogonal direction (perpendicular to insertion direction) rather than parallel to the insertion direction. This inversion allows the guide portions to be molded without draft angles affecting position accuracy, while the mold structure remains manageable through this alternative orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional orientation of the mold opening direction from being parallel to the insertion direction to being parallel to the orthogonal direction. This dimensional change allows guide portions to extend in the insertion direction without requiring draft angles, thereby maintaining position accuracy while still enabling mold opening.
3Manufacturing precision
If the mold opening direction is set parallel to the insertion direction, then the guide portion can be molded, but the mold sliding distance increases leading to complex mold structure and higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mold opening direction from parallel to insertion direction to parallel to orthogonal direction. This inversion dramatically reduces the mold sliding distance required to form guide portions, simplifying the mold structure and reducing cost while still achieving proper guide portion formation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a resin frame composed of a resin and an image forming unit that is removably inserted in the resin frame. The resin frame includes a base having a supporting surface that supports the image forming unit, a guide portion that extends in the base in an insertion direction in which the image forming unit is inserted along the supporting surface and that guides the image forming unit in the insertion direction while limiting movement of the image forming unit in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion direction, and a side plate portion that is provided at a peripheral edge of the base so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface, the base, the guide portion, and the side plate portion being integrally molded from a resin. A mold opening direction of a mold for molding the guide portion is set to a direction parallel to the orthogonal direction, and downstream end portions of the side plate portion in the mold opening direction are integrally connected to each other and extend essentially parallel to the perimeter of the base.