Upper Frame Opening Mechanism with Gravity Moment Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In tandem type full-color image forming apparatuses, the upper frame's opening and closing mechanism poses risks of injury and damage due to uncontrolled movement, as it receives moments from gravity, leading to collisions and impact during opening and closing, especially when the angle exceeds the inversion angle, and existing solutions with single springs struggle to adjust and cushion these forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
The mechanism incorporates a pivotally attached upper frame with a rail member and a biasing member, along with a compression coil spring as a cushion member, to balance the moments applied by gravity when the upper frame is opened at maximum angles, preventing excessive opening or closing and ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upper frame is opened wide to access all four toner cartridges in a tandem type full-color image forming apparatus, then the toner cartridges can be easily replaced, but the upper frame may collide with the main body with great force causing injury and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A cushion member is provided on the rail member to absorb impact energy before the upper frame collides with the main body. The cushion member compresses during the collision process, converting kinetic energy into elastic potential energy, thereby reducing the harmful impact force and preventing injury and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion member acts as an intermediary element between the upper frame and the main body. Instead of allowing direct rigid contact, the cushion member mediates the interaction by deforming under load, extending the collision time and reducing the peak force transmitted to both the upper frame and main body.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the upper frame includes heavy components like image reading devices and automatic document feeders, then the functionality is enhanced, but the weight increases causing the upper frame to pivot backward with great force
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing member is introduced to generate a counteracting moment that balances the gravitational moment on the upper frame. The biasing member applies a force in the opening direction that counterweights the tendency of the heavy upper frame to pivot backward, thereby controlling the pivot force and preventing injury, noise, and component damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The natural gravitational pivot motion is replaced and controlled by the mechanical action of the biasing member. Instead of relying solely on gravity to drive the opening and closing motion, the biasing member provides a controlled mechanical force that regulates the movement and prevents uncontrolled pivoting.
3Device complexity
If a single spring is used to bias the upper frame in the opening direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to adjust and cushion forces effectively is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The force control function is segmented into two distinct components: a biasing member for generating the opening force and a cushion member for absorbing impact energy. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the biasing member providing reliable force generation and the cushion member providing effective impact absorption, thereby improving overall reliability without excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reliably prevents injury and damage by balancing the moments applied to the upper frame, allowing for controlled opening and closing, reducing impact and enhancing safety and usability while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
a compression coil spring as a cushion member provided to an end edge of the rail member to be pressed by the leading edge of the arm member so as to cushion the opening motion of the upper frame
Implementation Method 2
cushion the opening motion of the upper frame when the upper frame is opened at a maximum opening angle relative to the main body
Implementation Method 3
the upper frame receives a moment in an opening direction due to gravity when the upper frame is opened at an angle exceeding an inversion angle
Implementation Method 4
a biasing member to bias the upper frame in the opening direction
Data Source
AI summary
An upper frame opening and closing mechanism, including an upper frame pivotally attached to a main body, which may include an image forming device, so as to open and close on a hinge, which receives a moment in an opening direction due to gravity when the upper frame is opened at an angle exceeding an inversion angle to expose the image forming device, an arm member, a rail member to guide a leading edge of the arm member along with opening and closing of the upper frame, a biasing member to bias the upper frame in the opening direction, and a cushion member to be pressed by the leading edge of the arm member so as to cushion the opening of the upper frame when the upper frame is opened at a maximum opening angle relative to the main body.