Support Frame Stiffness via Harness Groove Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses lack sufficient stiffness in their structure to support the platen glass effectively, especially when reading documents like books, which can lead to instability during the image reading process.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a support frame with a harness accommodating portion and frame reinforcement, featuring recessed grooves and vertical walls to enhance the structural stiffness, allowing the reading device to reciprocate smoothly and securely support the platen glass, while also accommodating the harness connecting the reading device to the controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a simple support frame structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but stiffness to support the platen glass is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestiffness of support frameVSAvoidcomplexity of support frame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support frame is divided into multiple functional sections: a harness accommodating portion with recessed grooves for cable management, a guide portion for reading device reciprocation, and a frame reinforcement portion. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing the necessary stiffness without unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame reinforcement includes a third wall extending in the vertical direction and fourth walls extending in the front-rear direction, creating a three-dimensional reinforced structure. This multi-dimensional approach significantly increases the stiffness of the support frame while adding minimal complexity compared to traditional reinforcement methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the harness length is increased to accommodate reading device movement, then ease of operation is improved, but the overall stability of the system deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of reading device reciprocationVSAvoidstability of support frame

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The harness accommodating portion features recessed grooves that nest and organize the harness (cables) in a structured manner. This nesting approach allows the harness to accommodate the reading device's reciprocation movement while maintaining system stability by preventing cable tangling and excessive length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The frame reinforcement acts as an intermediary structure between the harness accommodating portion and the guide portion. It provides structural stability while allowing the harness to have sufficient length for operation, mediating between the conflicting requirements of stability and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11438481B2Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus comprising a first wall, a second wall, a harness interposed between the first wall and second wall, a third wall, the harness not interposed between the first wall and third wall, and a plurality of fourth walls spaced apart from each other extending in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the first direction in which the first wall and the third wall extend and protruding upward from the bottom of the harness accommodating portion

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image reading apparatus is provided, including a platen glass having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a support frame supporting a peripheral portion of the platen glass, a reading device reciprocable in a first direction and disposed on an inner side of the support frame so as to be nearer to the lower surface than to the upper surface, a guide formed on an inner bottom surface on the inner side of the support frame and extending in the first direction so as to guide reciprocation of the reading device, a controller that controls operations of the reading device, a harness connecting the reading device and the controller to each other, and a harness accommodating portion accommodating the harness and constituted by a groove having a recessed shape, extending in the first direction, and formed at the inner bottom surface at a position located in front of the guide.