Split Housing Positioning Structure for Opening-Side Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing housing structures for processing devices, such as image forming devices, face challenges in ensuring accurate positioning and rigidity when split into upper and lower components, particularly due to the presence of an opening that reduces structural integrity at the connection area between the housings.
Innovation Solution
A housing structure with a positioner that includes reference positioning elements, anti-rotation elements, and position regulation elements, which are strategically placed at the corners of the connection area between the upper and lower housings to facilitate accurate alignment and prevent rotation, ensuring stability and rigidity by using pins and holes to secure the upper housing on the lower housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the housing is split into upper and lower components with an opening for accessibility, then ease of operation and maintenance are improved, but structural rigidity and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into upper and lower separable components, allowing the lower housing to be removed for maintenance access while the upper housing remains. This segmentation enables ease of operation without compromising the overall structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning elements are asymmetrically distributed with concentration at the corners and edges. The reference positioning element is located at one corner, anti-rotation elements at adjacent corners, and position regulation elements at remaining corners, creating an asymmetric pattern that optimizes both rigidity and positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If positioning elements are added to ensure accurate positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning elements serve multiple functions: reference positioning elements establish the primary position, anti-rotation elements prevent rotational deviation, and position regulation elements fine-tune the positioning. This multi-functional design achieves high positioning accuracy without requiring excessive separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple positioning functions are combined into a coordinated system of elements working together. The reference positioning, anti-rotation, and position regulation functions are merged into an integrated positioning mechanism that achieves accurate positioning while controlling overall complexity.
3Strength
If multiple positioning elements are used to maintain rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning elements are strategically placed at critical locations (corners and edges) where they provide maximum structural benefit. The reference positioning element is at one corner, anti-rotation elements at adjacent corners, and position regulation elements at remaining corners, concentrating strength where needed rather than uniformly distributing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning elements are pre-configured in specific patterns during design and manufacturing. Reference holes and positioning pins are predetermined in location and configuration, allowing for accurate positioning to be achieved without complex assembly procedures or additional components during installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing structure includes an upper housing at an upper side of a device housing, a lower housing at a lower side of the device housing, and a positioner that positions the upper housing on the lower housing. One side surface of the device housing has an opening extending astride the lower housing and the upper housing when the upper housing is positioned on the lower housing. The positioner includes a reference positioning element that is provided toward any one of four corners of a connection area between the lower housing and the upper housing and that has a reference hole provided in one of or each of the lower housing and the upper housing and a positioning reference pin fitted in the reference hole, an anti-rotation element that is provided toward another corner of the four corners excluding the corner near where the reference positioning element is provided and that has an anti-rotation pin provided at one of the lower housing and the upper housing and an anti-rotation hole that is provided in the other one of the lower housing and the upper housing, receives the anti-rotation pin, and suppresses rotation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing about the reference positioning element, and position regulation elements that are respectively provided toward corners, of the four corners, located at opposite sides of the opening such that the one side surface having the opening is interposed between the corners. The position regulation elements individually have position regulation pins provided at one of the lower housing and the upper housing and position regulation holes that are provided in the other one of the lower housing and the upper housing, receive the position regulation pins, and positionally regulate the corners located at the opposite sides of the opening.