Rotatable Opening Mechanism for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic image forming apparatuses require increased urging force for the opening and closing mechanism, leading to higher operating forces and reduced usability.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a link part with a contact point that rotates about a second part, allowing the contact point to engage with the main body's receiving surface, enabling the opening and closing mechanism to move with reduced urging force by utilizing a tension spring to maintain the closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the urging force of the urging member is increased to stably urge the opening and closing part against the main body, then the stability of the closed position is improved, but the operating force required to open and close the opening and closing part increases
Solution Approach 1:
A link part is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the urging member and the opening and closing part. The link part includes a contact part that engages with a receiving surface on the main body, allowing the urging force to be applied in a way that does not directly increase the operating force. The link part acts as a force transmission mediator that converts the urging force into a stabilizing moment without adding to the user's operational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The link part enables the urging force to act in a different dimensional manner - by creating a rotational moment about a pivot point rather than directly opposing the opening force. This dimensional transformation allows the same urging force to provide greater stabilizing effect while requiring less operating force to overcome during opening/closing operations.
2Reliability
If the urging force is increased to maintain the opening and closing part closed, then the stability is improved, but the usability for users and service persons deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The link part serves as a mechanical intermediary that decouples the urging force application from the direct opening/closing motion. By engaging the contact part with the receiving surface, it creates a leveraged force application that stabilizes the closed position without requiring the user to overcome increased resistance during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The link part introduces dynamic adaptability to the urging mechanism. During opening and closing operations, the link part allows the urging force to be temporarily overcome or bypassed, and only engages to provide stabilizing force when the opening and closing part is in the closed position, thus maintaining usability while ensuring stability during normal operation.
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 design reduces the influence of the urging force on the operating force, enhancing usability by allowing smoother operation of the opening and closing mechanism while maintaining the transfer unit in a stable closed state.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member connected to the link part and the main body and configured to urge the link part
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet includes a main body, an opening and closing part, a link part, and an urging member. The link part is connected to the main body and the opening and closing part. When the opening and closing part moves between open and closed positions, the link part moves perpendicular to a direction along a rotating shaft of the link part to contact and be received by the main body. The opening and closing part can move in a state in which the link part and the main body contact each other. When the opening and closing part is in the closed position, the link part and the main body are separated from each other, and the opening and closing part is urged toward the main body by the link part urged by the urging member.