Tray Cover Assembly With Common Fasteners for Higher Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of the tray cover structure in image forming apparatuses, due to integrally molded parts such as ribs and link rails, complicates molding and assembly, making it difficult to manufacture and assemble efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a cover body that rotates about a rotation axis, with a second tray and guide members fixed using common fastening members, and separate extension cover and guide members for improved assembly and rigidity, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tray cover structure includes integrally molded parts such as ribs and link rails, then the structural integrity is improved, but the molding process complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tray cover into separate components: the cover body and the link rail assembly. The link rails are formed as a separate molded piece that is then attached to the cover body through recesses and engagement structures. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for molding while maintaining the required structural integrity through the connection design.
2Strength
If the tray cover structure includes integrally molded parts such as ribs and link rails, then the structural integrity is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements into integrated assemblies. The link rail assembly merges the link rails with support ribs and connection interfaces into a single molded component that attaches to the cover body. This merging reduces the number of separate parts to assemble while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated design.
3Strength
If other parts such as reinforcement ribs are integrally molded with the tray cover, then the structural strength is improved, but the number of parts to be assembled increases
Solution Approach 1:
The link rail assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the link rail mechanism for opening/closing motion, includes reinforcement ribs for structural strength, and incorporates connection interfaces for mounting. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise be separate components into a single integrated assembly, reducing the total part count while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a device body having an opening, a cover body configured to move between open and closed positions to open and close the opening, a sheet conveyer, a first tray, a second tray disposed opposite to the sheet conveyer across the first tray when the cover body is at the open position, a third tray configured to move between a stowed position between the cover body and the second tray and a pulled-out position pulled away from the first tray, and two guide members configured to guide the first tray. The second tray has two first attachment holes. Each of the guide members has a second attachment hole. The first attachment holes overlap the second attachment holes, respectively. The second tray and each of the guide members are fixed to the cover body with a common fastening member inserted into the first and second attachment holes.