Image Scanner Pivoting Mechanism with Overhanging Corner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image-forming apparatuses face challenges in easily opening and closing the image-reading section while ensuring stable support, with configurations that either compromise stability or make operation difficult.
Innovation Solution
The image-forming apparatus is designed with an upper housing and lower housing configuration where the upper corner portion projects beyond the lower corner portion, allowing easy pivoting and stable support, enabling effortless opening and closing of the image-reading section by hooking the hand onto the projecting corner, thereby stabilizing the image-reading section during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the catch tray opens widely laterally (perpendicular to the opening/closing direction of the image-reading section), then the operation of opening/closing the image-reading section is easy, but the support of the image-reading section becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the upper housing and lower housing with corner portions that differ in shape, specifically making the upper corner portion project beyond the lower corner portion. This asymmetric configuration creates an overhang that serves as a natural pivot point, enabling easy manual operation while maintaining stable support during the opening and closing movements of the image-reading section
2Stability of the object's composition
If the catch tray opens only frontward (along the opening/closing direction of the image-reading section), then the image-reading section is stably supported, but the operation of opening/closing the image-reading section becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric configuration of corner portions creates a projecting upper corner that extends beyond the lower corner, forming an overhang structure. This asymmetric design allows the image-reading section to pivot easily along the opening/closing direction while maintaining stable support, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and stability
Data Source
AI summary
An image scanner section is disposed above a printer section. The image scanner section is supported by the printer section in such a manner as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis. The printer section has a lower housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The image scanner section has an upper housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured such that a second upper corner portion, which is a corner portion of the upper housing, projects beyond a second lower corner portion, which is a corner portion of the lower housing and is located just under the second upper corner portion.