Image Forming Apparatus USB Board Overlap Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in miniaturization and cost containment due to the need for long connecting cables between the USB board and the main board, which are susceptible to electromagnetic disturbances and require protective measures, increasing the size and cost of the device.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed with the USB board and main control board positioned to minimize the length of the connecting cable, using a board support plate to secure and route the cables efficiently, allowing for overlapping configurations that reduce the cable length and eliminate the need for protective measures against electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the USB port is disposed in a place easy to access by the user (front side of left side face), then the ease of operation is improved, but the length of connecting cable increases requiring protection members and increasing device size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the USB port from the front side to the upper face of the housing, changing the spatial dimension of access. This allows the USB board to be disposed on the upper part of the housing rather than the front side, significantly reducing the distance to the main board while maintaining user accessibility. The connecting cable length is reduced from 100-200mm to a much shorter distance, eliminating the need for protection members and reducing overall device size.
2Ease of operation
If the USB port is disposed far from the main board (100-200mm distance), then the ease of operation is improved, but the length of connecting cable increases making assembly and maintenance labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the USB port to the upper face and the USB board to the upper part of the housing, the patent creates a compact vertical arrangement that minimizes cable length. This dimensional repositioning reduces assembly and maintenance time by eliminating the need for workers to route long cables through the device interior, making connector access more straightforward and reducing overall assembly complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a long connecting cable is used (100-200mm length), then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to electromagnetic disturbance susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the USB board distance to the main board by repositioning both components to the upper part of the housing. This dimensional change shortens the connecting cable length from 100-200mm to a minimal distance, thereby reducing susceptibility to electromagnetic disturbances and improving signal transmission reliability between the USB board and main board.
4Reliability
If protection members are disposed inside the apparatus to protect the connecting cable, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the protection member from the device by shortening the connecting cable length through repositioning the USB board to the upper part of the housing. Since the cable is now sufficiently short and positioned away from electromagnetic interference sources, protection members become unnecessary, reducing device complexity and component count while maintaining adequate signal transmission reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a casing, a sheet discharge unit, a supporting portion, a first electric board, a second electric board, and a connecting cable. The first electric board is disposed such that the first electric board does not overlap the supporting portion in a width direction when viewed in the vertical direction. The second electric board is disposed such that the second electric board does not overlap the supporting portion in the width direction when viewed in the vertical direction. The second electric board is disposed on a same side in the width direction as the first electric board with respect to the supporting portion when viewed in the vertical direction. At least a part of the second electric board overlaps the first electric board in the vertical direction and the sheet discharge direction when viewed in the width direction.