Rotary Damper Gear Integration for Compact Pivot Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image recording apparatuses with rotary oil dampers require additional space for sect gears and sun gears, leading to increased size and potential safety hazards during pivot operation.
Innovation Solution
An opening/closing apparatus with a rack member and arm body that accommodates a rotary damper and gear section, allowing the damping force to be transmitted to the pivot motion while minimizing the overall size and reducing the risk of user injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotary oil damper is provided for the apparatus body with sect gears and sun gears, then the pivot body receives damping load, but the apparatus body requires additional space for these gears making the apparatus large-sized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the damping function and gear transmission function into a single integrated arm body structure. The rotary damper and gear section are both supported by the same arm body housing, eliminating the need for separate gear mounting spaces in the apparatus body. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by maintaining damping reliability while reducing the overall apparatus volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm body is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously supports the rotary damper, gear section, and rack member. This universal structure performs multiple functions (damping, gear transmission, and mechanical linkage) within a single component, thereby reducing the total space required in the apparatus body while maintaining all necessary functions.
2Speed
If the pivot body is made to pivot quickly in the closing direction, then the operation is efficient, but the user's hand may be pinched between the pivot body and apparatus body causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary damper provides beforehand cushioning by applying viscous damping force to the pivot motion before the pivot body can close quickly. This prior cushioning effect slows down the closing speed, preventing hand pinching injuries while maintaining operational efficiency. The damping force acts as a safety mechanism that activates during the pivot closing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the speed parameter of the pivot motion dynamically through the damping force. The rotary damper modifies the pivot speed from potentially dangerous fast motion to safe slow motion during the closing operation, while still allowing efficient operation. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between speed and safety.
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
The solution enables a compact design by sharing space for the gear section and rotary damper within the arm body, reducing the risk of user injury during pivot operations and maintaining efficient damping forces.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary damper supported by the housing and having a damping gear configured to receive damping force from viscous fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An opening/closing apparatus includes: an apparatus body; a pivot body pivotable between a close position covering an upper portion of the apparatus body and an open position releasing the upper portion of the apparatus body; a rack member provided on the pivot body and having a rack gear extending in a radial direction from a pivot base end portion to a pivot front-end portion of the pivot body; and an arm body having one end portion connected to the apparatus body and the other end portion connected to the rack member and slidably movable relative to the rack member. The arm body includes: a housing; a rotary damper supported by the housing and having a damping gear receiving damping force from viscous fluid; and a gear section supported by the housing and transmitting the damping force of the damping gear to the rack gear.