Scanner Cable Protective Structure for Hinged Cover Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing image reading apparatuses face breakage of connection members due to contact between the protective member and the connection member when the protective member enters and exits the housing during opening and closing operations, leading to potential damage and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a protective member with a first and second protective member, both rotatably supported by the opening and closing member and the housing respectively, with rotation axes aligned, to accommodate and protect the connection member, reducing the risk of breakage by minimizing movement and contact during operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the protective member is supported in a hanging state with the other end portion not restrained, then the cable accommodation space can flexibly adapt to opening and closing movements, but the cable may contact with the housing or surrounding structures causing breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of cable accommodation spaceVSAvoidreliability of cable connection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cable guide portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the protective member and the housing. This guide portion turnably attaches to the second unit and guides the cable along a predetermined path, preventing direct contact between the cable and housing while maintaining flexible adaptation to opening and closing movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable guide portion employs a curved or rounded path design that allows the cable to bend smoothly during opening and closing operations. This curved guidance prevents sharp angles and stress concentration points that could lead to cable breakage, while still accommodating the full range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the connection member is rigidly fixed between the reading member and processing unit, then electrical connection is stable, but the connection member cannot accommodate the opening and closing movements of the opening and closing member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of electrical connectionVSAvoidaccommodation of opening and closing movements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective member is designed to rotate about a rotation shaft, transforming from a static rigid structure to a dynamic articulated mechanism. This allows the connection member to maintain electrical stability while adapting its position to accommodate the opening and closing movements of the opening and closing member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protective member acts as a flexible enclosure that can bend and rotate, accommodating the movement requirements of the opening and closing mechanism while protecting the rigid connection member inside. This flexible outer shell allows the rigid internal components to remain stable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If the protective member is restrained at both ends to the housing, then the cable path is fixed and stable, but the cable cannot accommodate the movement during opening and closing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of cable pathVSAvoidaccommodation of opening and closing movements

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple sections: the protective member is rotatably supported at one end to the opening and closing member, while the other end remains free or is supported by a turnable cable guide. This segmentation allows different parts of the system to have different degrees of freedom, with the stable end providing anchoring and the flexible end providing movement accommodation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4047915A1Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.08.24 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

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AI summary

An image reading apparatus includes: a housing including a processing unit configured to process image information; an opening and closing member openably and closably provided on the housing, the opening and closing member including a reading unit configured to read an image from an image holding medium and configured to obtain image information from the image; a connection member that electrically connects the reading unit and the processing unit; and a protective member including a first protective member rotatably supported by the opening and closing member and a second protective member rotatably supported by the housing and rotatably connected to the first protective member, wherein rotation axial directions of the first protective member and the second protective member are the same direction as a rotation axial direction of the opening and closing member, and the connection member is accommodated in the protective member and protected by the protective member.