Rotatable CIS Sensor Retention for Impact Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in reducing impact on reading sensors when the open/close unit is operated, leading to potential sensor damage and defective reading due to increased size, weight, and deterioration of impact-absorbing members.

Innovation Solution

The image reading apparatus retains the reading sensor in a rotatable manner to maintain a predetermined posture along a reference plane, utilizing a biasing portion to move the sensor toward the lower side of an inclined plane, thereby reducing impact and ensuring correct posture during closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a box-like sensor retention unit and impact-absorbing member are provided to reduce impact on the reading sensor, then the impact on the reading sensor is reduced, but the open/close unit has a larger size and increased weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact on reading sensorVSAvoidweight of open/close unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the retention method from a fixed box-like structure to a rotatable retention mechanism where the reading sensor can rotate to become parallel with the reference plane. This parameter change in the retention mechanism eliminates the need for bulky impact-absorbing members while still protecting the sensor during closure operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The reading sensor is retained in a rotatable manner rather than being fixed in a rigid box-like structure. This dynamic retention mechanism allows the sensor to adjust its position during opening/closing operations, reducing impact without requiring additional weight for protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a box-like sensor retention unit and impact-absorbing member are provided to reduce impact on the reading sensor, then the impact on the reading sensor is reduced, but the open/close unit has a larger size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact on reading sensorVSAvoidsize of open/close unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the retention method from a fixed box-like structure to a rotatable retention mechanism where the reading sensor can rotate to become parallel with the reference plane. This parameter change in the retention mechanism eliminates the need for bulky impact-absorbing members while still protecting the sensor during closure operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The reading sensor is retained in a rotatable manner rather than being fixed in a rigid box-like structure. This dynamic retention mechanism allows the sensor to adjust its position during opening/closing operations, reducing impact without requiring additional space for protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the impact-absorbing member is used to reduce impact on the reading sensor, then the impact is reduced, but when the impact-absorbing member deteriorates with age, the reading sensor has a different posture causing defective reading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact on reading sensorVSAvoidreading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reading sensor is retained in a rotatable manner rather than being fixed in a rigid box-like structure. This dynamic retention mechanism allows the sensor to adjust its position during opening/closing operations, reducing impact without requiring additional space for protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable retention mechanism allows the reading sensor to automatically adjust and correct its own posture during closure operations without relying on deteriorating impact-absorbing members. The sensor self-corrects to become parallel with the reference plane, ensuring consistent reading accuracy over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 configuration effectively minimizes sensor impact and maintains accurate positioning without the need for a box-like retention unit or impact-absorbing members, reducing the apparatus's size and weight, and preventing defective readings.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing portion configured to allow a biasing force to act to the reading sensor toward the reference plane, the biasing portion providing the biasing force so as to move the reading sensor toward a lower side of the inclination of the reference plane in the gravity direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9538032B2Image reading apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 CANON KK

AI summary

A simple configuration is used to reduce an impact applied to a reading sensor when the open/close unit is opened/closed. A back face CIS unit is retained to be movable with regard to a pressure plate so that the back face CIS unit can have a corrected posture when the pressure plate is closed.