Triangular Frame Rigidity for Laser Scanner Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses with low main body frame rigidity suffer from positional deviation of optical components due to vibrations, leading to image distortion and misregistration, and increasing the rigidity through reinforcing members or thicker components raises production costs and apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a main body frame design with a substantially triangular closed space formed by interconnected side plates and support members, which enhances rigidity without additional reinforcing members, effectively preventing positional deviation of optical components and maintaining high image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcing members are provided or member thickness is increased to enhance main body frame rigidity, then image quality is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The main body frame is segmented into multiple support members (first through fourth support members) that are arranged to form a box-shaped closed space. This segmentation allows the frame to achieve high rigidity through the collective structural arrangement rather than relying on individual thick members or additional reinforcing elements, thereby reducing production cost while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are arranged in a three-dimensional box-shaped closed space configuration, utilizing spatial arrangement to enhance rigidity. This dimensional approach transforms the structural strength from relying on member thickness to relying on the geometric configuration of the closed space, achieving cost-effective rigidity enhancement.
2Strength
If a box-shaped closed space is formed at the bottom of the main body frame to enhance rigidity, then production cost is suppressed, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The box-shaped closed space formed by the support members is integrated with the exposure unit, which includes the laser scanner and photosensitive drum. By merging the structural support function with the functional exposure unit housing, the design eliminates dead space and reduces overall apparatus size while maintaining the rigidity-enhancing closed space structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If a box-shaped closed space is formed at the bottom of the main body frame, then production cost is suppressed, but optical component positional deviation increases due to side plate twisting
Solution Approach 1:
The four support members are arranged asymmetrically to form a box-shaped closed space that strategically reinforces the connection between front and rear side plates. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the structural stiffness distribution to minimize twisting deformation while maintaining cost-effectiveness, thereby preserving optical component position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members extend in multiple dimensions to form a three-dimensional box-shaped closed space, creating a rigid structural framework that resists twisting forces. This spatial configuration enhances the moment of inertia of the side plate connection, reducing twisting deformation and maintaining optical component position accuracy without increasing production cost.
Data Source
AI summary
The image forming apparatus including an exposure unit that exposes an image bearing member by a laser beam, a first side plate and a second side plate facing with each other, and a first support member, a second support member, and a third support member connecting the first side plate and the second side plate to each other, wherein the first side plate and the second side plate and the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member form a substantially closed space, with said exposure unit being arranged in the closed space, and wherein a section of the closed space on a plane parallel to the first side plate and the second side plate has a substantially triangular shape. It achieves preventing the displacement of an optical component attributable to an increase in size of the image forming apparatus main body and twisting of side plates.