Round Signal Cable for Rotating Transfer Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining detection accuracy of the reading unit when the rotation unit rotates, often resulting in signal transmission issues due to the mechanical stress on flat signal cables.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a round-shaped HDMI cable as a second signal transmission member, connected via a relay board to a flat flexible cable, which relays signals from the reading unit, ensuring continuous and accurate signal transmission even during rotation of the transfer unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat signal cable is used to connect the reading unit to the apparatus body, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the detection accuracy deteriorates due to signal degradation and breakage during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the flat signal cable with a round-shaped flexible cable that has rotational flexibility. The round cross-section allows the cable to bend and rotate without creating stress concentration points, enabling the reading unit to rotate while maintaining signal integrity and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the signal transmission member by transitioning from a flat cable structure to a round flexible cable structure. This parameter change includes modifying the cable's cross-sectional shape, material composition, and flexibility characteristics to accommodate rotational movement while preserving signal quality.
2Ease of operation
If the transfer unit is made rotatable to improve accessibility and maintenance, then the ease of operation improves, but the reliability deteriorates due to mechanical stress on the signal cable
Solution Approach 1:
The round-shaped flexible cable with circular cross-section can accommodate rotational movement of the transfer unit without creating bending stress or torsion. This allows the transfer unit to rotate for maintenance and operation while the cable maintains signal transmission reliability through its flexible, stress-distributing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible cable structure that can bend and rotate without rigid constraints. This flexible construction allows the cable to adapt to the rotational movement of the transfer unit, maintaining connection reliability while enabling ease of operation for maintenance activities.
3Reliability
If a round-shaped cable is used instead of a flat cable, then the reliability improves during rotation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the cable's physical parameters from flat to round cross-section and selects materials with appropriate flexibility characteristics. This parameter change achieves the desired reliability improvement while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through a straightforward structural substitution.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer unit includes a reading unit to read an image on a sheet conveyed along a conveyance path, a first signal transmission member having a flat shape and is connected to the reading unit, and a relay member connected to the first signal transmission member. The relay member relays a signal from the first signal transmission member, and a second signal transmission member having a round shape and is connected to the relay member. The second signal transmission member leads into an apparatus body from an inner portion of the transfer unit in an axial direction of a first rotation shaft.