Scanner Frame Assembly With Auxiliary Plates for Horizontal Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses with less rigid lid members face challenges in providing sufficient rigidity against horizontal forces due to reduced structural support from the main body frame.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of paired main-body frames and a scanner frame with auxiliary plates and enhancing frames, which are screwed to the main-body frames from the outer side, enhancing the overall rigidity against horizontal forces while maintaining a compact design and improving assembly efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the lid member is made less rigid to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the rigidity of the main body frame against horizontal forces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidrigidity against horizontal forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The scanner frame is divided into multiple components: a bottom plate, four wall plates (first, second, third, and fourth), and four auxiliary plates (first, second, third, and fourth). These segmented parts are assembled together to form the complete scanner frame structure, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary plates are positioned within the framework formed by the bottom plate and wall plates. The first auxiliary plate extends from the third wall plate, the second auxiliary plate from the fourth wall plate, the third auxiliary plate from the first wall plate, and the fourth auxiliary plate from the second wall plate, creating a nested structure that enhances rigidity without significantly increasing external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the lid member rigidity is reduced, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the structural stability of the main body deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The scanner frame is divided into multiple components: a bottom plate, four wall plates (first, second, third, and fourth), and four auxiliary plates (first, second, third, and fourth). These segmented parts are assembled together to form the complete scanner frame structure, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scanner frame combines multiple plate components (bottom plate, wall plates, and auxiliary plates) to create a composite structure. This composite construction provides enhanced structural stability while allowing the use of less rigid materials for individual components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If auxiliary plates are added to enhance rigidity, then structural strength improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity against horizontal forcesVSAvoidframework complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanner frame is divided into multiple components: a bottom plate, four wall plates (first, second, third, and fourth), and four auxiliary plates (first, second, third, and fourth). These segmented parts are assembled together to form the complete scanner frame structure, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary plates serve multiple functions: they extend from the wall plates to provide additional structural support, they are positioned to work in conjunction with the wall plates and bottom plate, and they all contribute to enhancing rigidity against horizontal forces. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250298365A1Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes paired main-body frames and a scanner frame. The canner frame, on which an exposure device is mounted, is connected to one and the other of the paired main-body frames and includes a bottom plate, a first wall plate, a second wall plate, a third wall plate, a fourth wall plate, a first auxiliary plate, a second auxiliary plate, a third auxiliary plate, and a fourth auxiliary plate. The first wall plate, the first auxiliary plate, and the third auxiliary plate are screwed to the one of the paired main-body frames, and the second wall plate, the second auxiliary plate, and the fourth auxiliary plate are screwed to the other of the paired main-body frames.