Side-by-Side Controller and Media Housing with Connecting Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in compactly arranging a board accommodating portion and a recording medium accommodating portion while maintaining high rigidity of the connecting surface, often resulting in increased size and reduced stability due to the stacking of components.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a board accommodating portion and a recording medium accommodating portion that extend in perpendicular directions, arranged side by side, with a connecting portion that overlaps and directly fixes these portions, enhancing rigidity and compactness by eliminating the need for stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the controller box and the HDD unit are stacked in the front and back direction, then the rigidity of the connecting surface is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a stacked arrangement (front-back direction) to a side-by-side arrangement in the left-right direction. The board accommodating portion and recording medium accommodating portion are positioned adjacent to each other horizontally, connected by a connecting portion that extends in the left-right direction, thereby reducing the front-back depth while maintaining structural rigidity through the connecting portion design
2Volume of moving object
If the controller box and the HDD unit are lined up in a plane and directly connected, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the rigidity of the connecting surface decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion serves as an intermediary structural element between the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion. It provides a rigid connection mechanism that maintains structural strength while enabling a compact side-by-side arrangement, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and rigidity
3Volume of moving object
If the board accommodating portion and recording medium accommodating portion are arranged side by side, then the apparatus becomes more compact, but the connecting surface rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is constructed as a composite structure combining a connecting plate and connecting ribs. The connecting plate provides a rigid base surface, while the connecting ribs extend to enhance structural stiffness and strength, creating a composite structure that maintains high rigidity in a compact side-by-side arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an electric board extending to a first direction and a second direction, a board accommodating portion cover the electric board, a recording medium accommodating portion to cover a recording medium and a connecting portion. The recording medium accommodating portion is arranged side by side with the board accommodating portion in the first direction. The connecting portion is arranged to overlap with the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion as seen in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and connects the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion. The board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion are directly fixed to the connecting portion, respectively.