Side Plate Stay Fastening Layout to Prevent Structural Distortion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing apparatus structure with a first stay portion and a second stay portion fastened to side plates with screws can cause distortion due to misalignment and unequal screw hole diameters, leading to potential deformation.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus structure incorporates a stay with a first and a second screw hole of varying diameters, ensuring proper alignment and preventing distortion by allowing the screws to be threaded correctly, even with minor deviations in perpendicularity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If both the first stay portion and the second stay portion are fastened to the side plates with screws, then the side plates are firmly connected and bending stiffness is increased, but distortion occurs in the apparatus structure due to misalignment and unequal screw hole diameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending stiffnessVSAvoidstructural distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by making one screw hole larger than the other screw hole. Specifically, the first screw hole or the second screw hole is designed with a larger diameter to compensate for misalignment caused by bending of the stay. This asymmetric design ensures that the larger screw hole can accommodate positional deviations without causing distortion, while the smaller screw hole provides precise fastening when properly aligned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If the screw holes are made of equal size, then the manufacturing is simplified, but misalignment and distortion occur when fastening the stay to the side plates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew hole uniformityVSAvoidfastening alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the screw hole diameters based on their specific functional requirements. The larger screw hole is positioned to accommodate potential misalignment and bending deviations, while the smaller screw hole provides precise fastening. This localized differentiation in hole sizes optimizes both alignment tolerance and fastening precision at different critical points of the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4675372A1Apparatus structure and image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4675372A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4675372A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4675372A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus structure (100) includes a pair of side plates (110a, 110b) facing each other; and a stay (102) fastened to the pair of side plates with a first screw and a second screw. One of the pair of side plates and a first stay portion (102a) of the stay (102) has a first screw hole (112a1 or 112a2) through which the first screw is inserted. The other has a first internal thread (102d1 or 102d2) into which the first screw is threaded. One of the pair of side plates or a second stay portion (102b) of the stay (102) has a second screw hole (112b1 or 112b2) through which the second screw is inserted. The other has a second internal thread (102e1 or 102e2) into which the second screw is threaded. One of the first screw hole or the second screw hole is larger than the other.