Scanner Module Light Guide Holder Assembly Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanner modules face issues with the precise assembly and damage of light guiding units due to lack of proper guidance during installation, leading to suboptimal light distribution and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-functional device with a scanner module featuring a light source holder and guide holder that securely mounts the light guiding unit using a snap-fit mechanism and flexible spacers to maintain alignment and prevent damage, ensuring precise assembly and straight alignment of the light guiding unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the light guiding unit is installed by sliding insert from one side opening of the case, then the assembly process is simple, but the light guiding unit may be scratched and precise assembly cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
A guide holder is introduced as an intermediary component to hold and guide the light guiding unit during installation. The guide holder includes guide grooves that precisely guide the light guiding unit to its installation position, preventing scratches while achieving precise assembly. This mediator structure resolves the contradiction between simple assembly and precise assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide holder is prepared in advance with guide grooves and positioning structures before the light guiding unit installation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the light guiding unit is inserted, it is automatically guided to the correct position without requiring complex assembly operations, thus achieving both simplicity and precision.
2Area of stationary object
If the light guiding unit is made long and thin to cover the illuminating region, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the light guiding unit easily becomes bent
Solution Approach 1:
The guide holder is made of flexible material that can elastically deform during the insertion of the light guiding unit. This flexibility allows the guide holder to accommodate the long and thin light guiding unit without causing bending, while still providing precise guidance. The flexible structure resolves the contradiction between coverage area and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide holder includes cushioning structures that prevent the light guiding unit from bending during installation and operation. By providing protective support in advance, the light guiding unit maintains its straight shape despite its long and thin structure, thus resolving the contradiction between illumination coverage and structural stability.
3Device complexity
If the light guiding unit slides into the case without guidance structure, then the assembly is simple, but precise assembly cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The guide holder serves as a mediator between the case and the light guiding unit, providing guide grooves and positioning structures that enable precise assembly. This intermediary structure adds minimal complexity while significantly improving assembly precision, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and manufacturing precision.
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
The solution enables easy, precise, and damage-free assembly of the LED and light guiding unit, improving light distribution and reducing production costs while maintaining the light guiding unit in a straight position, thus enhancing the scanner module's performance and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a light source to emit light
Implementation Method 2
a light guiding unit which is lengthened in a sub-scanning direction, faces the document mount and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source
Implementation Method 3
an imaging lens which is disposed between the document mount and the sensor unit and focuses the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.