Wiring Cable Contact Reduction in Image Scanners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in reducing size while maintaining image reading quality due to wiring cable contact with the side wall, leading to dust generation and vibrations that affect the reading unit's movement and image quality.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus incorporates a contact reduction portion, such as a first inclination surface or ribs, between the base wall and side wall to minimize contact between the wiring cable's extending portions and the side wall, thereby reducing dust and vibrations, and includes a recessed wiring area to accommodate the cable, allowing it to follow the reciprocating movement without interfering with the reading process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the wiring cable is positioned closer to the side wall to reduce the size of the image reading apparatus, then the size is reduced, but dust generation and vibrations increase due to contact between the cable and side wall
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the wiring cable and the side wall. The guide member has a groove that guides the wiring cable, preventing direct contact between the cable and side wall while allowing the cable to reciprocate smoothly. This mediator structure enables close positioning to the side wall without causing dust generation or vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiring cable is designed with flexibility to follow the reciprocating movement of the movable member. The cable can bend and change shape within the groove of the guide member, allowing it to adapt to the movement without contacting the side wall. This flexibility enables the cable to maintain close proximity to the side wall while avoiding harmful contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wiring cable is positioned away from the side wall to avoid contact, then dust generation and vibrations are reduced, but the size of the image reading apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member utilizes the vertical dimension by extending from the side wall inward, creating a three-dimensional groove structure. This allows the wiring cable to be positioned close to the side wall in the horizontal plane while the groove provides vertical clearance to prevent contact. The solution transforms a two-dimensional positioning problem into a three-dimensional space utilization problem.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wiring cable contacts the side wall during reciprocating movement, then the cable can follow the movement, but image reading quality deteriorates due to dust accumulation on the platen
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as a mediator that preserves the cable's ability to follow reciprocating movement through its groove structure, while simultaneously preventing dust generation that would accumulate on the platen and degrade image reading quality. The groove confines the cable's movement path, allowing adaptability without harmful contact.
Data Source
AI summary
The instant application discloses an apparatus including an image forming unit and an image reading apparatus. The image forming unit may be disposed adjacent to the base wall of the image reading apparatus. The image reading apparatus may include a base member including the base wall and a peripheral wall protruding orthogonally from the base wall to define an accommodation region; a movable member configured to reciprocate between one end portion of the accommodation region and another end portion of the accommodation region; a reading unit supported by the movable member; a cable having a first extending portion, a curve portion, and a second extending portion; and a contact reduction portion configured to reduce contact of the second extending portion of the cable with a side wall of the peripheral wall. Various embodiments of the contact reduction portion are also disclosed.