Electrode Design to Prevent Misalignment in Image Forming Devices
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Summary
Problems
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the contact portion of the electrode can become twisted and misaligned when exchanging cartridges, leading to a reduced contact area and poor electrical connectivity.
Innovation solutions
An electrode with an elastically deformable spring portion spirally wound in a tube shape, an annular electrical contact portion with a center axis intersecting the spring portion's direction, and an extending portion that continues in the intersecting direction, along with a frame design allowing the contact portion to protrude through an opening, preventing misalignment and maintaining electrical connectivity.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If the contact portion protrudes through the slit toward the inside of the casing, then the electrical contact area is increased, but the wire may be twisted and misaligned during cartridge exchange
Why choose this principle:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by adding the extending portion that protrudes from the contact portion in a direction intersecting with the axial direction of the spring portion. This third-dimensional extension provides geometric constraint that prevents the wire from twisting and misaligning while maintaining the electrical contact function, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical connectivity and wire alignment stability.
Principle concept:
If the contact portion protrudes through the slit toward the inside of the casing, then the electrical contact area is increased, but the wire may be twisted and misaligned during cartridge exchange
Why choose this principle:
The extending portion acts as an intermediary element between the contact portion and the external environment. It serves as a protective extension that maintains the proper orientation and position of the contact portion during cartridge exchange operations, preventing direct interference that would cause wire misalignment while preserving electrical contact.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
An electrode with an elastically deformable spring portion spirally wound in a tube shape, an annular electrical contact portion with a center axis intersecting the spring portion's direction, and an extending portion that continues in the intersecting direction, along with a frame design allowing the contact portion to protrude through an opening, preventing misalignment and maintaining electrical connectivity.
Abstract
An electrode for an image forming apparatus, the electrode including: an elastically deformable spring portion including a wire which is spirally wound and formed in a tube shape; an electrical contact portion provided continuously to the spring portion at one side in an axial direction of the spring portion, including the wire which is wound at least twice, and formed in an annular shape, where a center axis of the annular shape extends in an intersecting direction which intersects with the axial direction of the spring portion; and an extending portion provided continuously to the electrical contact portion and extending at least in the intersecting direction.