Rockable Cover Lock Mechanism with Displaceable Guide Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image formation apparatuses with rockable covers face issues where the lock mechanisms, configured to lock harder to ensure complete closure, can be easily disengaged, leading to the cover being opened inadvertently due to a slight impact.
Innovation Solution
The image formation apparatus incorporates a rockable member with a lock mechanism featuring an engaging and engageable portion, a guide member, and a guiding member, which transitions the rockable member from a rockable to an unrockable state by displacing the engageable portion closer to the engaging portion, ensuring secure locking with reduced operational force and preventing easy disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock mechanism is configured to lock harder to ensure complete closure, then the reliability of the locked state is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates and the cover may be easily disengaged by slight impact
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to be displaceable and transitions between two states: a first state during closing operation where it allows the engageable portion to move freely toward the engaging portion, and a second state during locked condition where it prevents displacement. This dynamic behavior enables the system to accommodate operational force during closing while maintaining reliability in the locked state.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member changes its displacement parameter based on the operational state. When the rockable member is being closed, the guide member is displaceable, allowing easy engagement. When the rockable member reaches the locked state, the guide member becomes undisplaceable, preventing accidental opening while requiring significant force to disengage.
2Ease of operation
If the lock mechanism is configured to lock easily with less operational force, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as the cover may be opened easily by slight impact
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member dynamically changes its constraint level based on the position of the rockable member. During the closing motion, it remains displaceable to facilitate easy engagement with minimal operational force. Once the locked position is achieved, it transitions to an undisplaceable state that provides strong resistance against accidental opening forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary between the engageable portion and the housing. It mediates the engagement process by being displaceable during closing to allow easy operation, then becomes a rigid constraint in the locked state to ensure reliability, effectively separating the operational phase from the locked phase requirements.
3Measurement precision
If one lock mechanism is made harder to engage than the other to detect complete closure with one sensor, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases and the cover may not close completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from the asymmetrical lock mechanism configuration. Instead of making one lock harder to engage for detection purposes, the system uses a sensor to detect the closed state independently, allowing both lock mechanisms to be configured equally for smooth operation while maintaining accurate detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Both lock mechanisms are configured with identical engagement characteristics, serving the universal function of securing the cover. The detection function is separately provided by the sensor, which monitors the closed state without requiring asymmetrical lock configuration. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for complex asymmetrical design while maintaining both operational smoothness and detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation apparatus is provided with a housing, a rockable member rockably secured to the housing, and a lock mechanism including an engaging portion and an engageable portion. The rockable member is locked to the housing when the engageable portion is engaged with the engaging portion. The image formation apparatus is further provided with a displaceable guide member secured to the housing or the rockable member. A guiding member is provided to the housing or the rockable member. The guiding member slide-contacts the guide member when the rockable member rocks so that the state of the rockable member is changed from a rockable state to an unrockable state. The engageable portion is displaced to move closer to the engaging portion in a case where the guide member contacts the guiding member than in a case where the guide member does not contact the guiding member.