Belt Drive Device Edge Cracking Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer belt in digital multifunction peripherals is prone to cracking at its edges due to aging deterioration and friction with photosensitive drums, necessitating frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
A belt drive device with a detection unit to locate the connection portion of reinforcing tapes on the transfer belt's edges, a control unit to manage belt rotation, and a blade to prevent the reinforcing tape from being caught by the cleaning blade, thereby reducing edge stress and extending the belt's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transfer belt is driven continuously with constant tension, then the transfer belt can maintain stable operation and transfer images reliably, but the edge of the transfer belt is prone to cracking due to aging deterioration and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by controlling the belt to stop before the reinforcing tape reaches the cleaning blade, and by positioning the cleaning blade to avoid contact with the reinforcing tape. This preemptive approach prevents the harmful contact that would cause edge cracking before it can occur, thereby maintaining edge strength while preserving stable operational reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning blade contacts the transfer belt continuously, then the cleaning function is maintained, but the reinforcing tape may be caught by the cleaning blade causing edge stress and cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cleaning blade position adjustable and the belt motion controllable. The cleaning blade can be dynamically positioned to contact only the belt surface without the reinforcing tape, and the belt can be dynamically stopped to prevent the reinforcing tape from reaching the cleaning blade. This dynamic control eliminates edge stress while maintaining the cleaning function.
3Strength
If the belt is stopped frequently to prevent reinforcing tape contact, then edge cracking is prevented, but operational productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using a detection unit to monitor the position of the reinforcing tape and a control unit to adjust the belt motion accordingly. The system continuously detects the reinforcing tape position and provides feedback control to stop the belt at appropriate moments, preventing edge cracking while minimizing interruptions to productivity through automated, precise control.
Data Source
AI summary
A belt drive device includes a drive unit, a detection unit, a blade, and a control unit. The drive unit rotates an endless belt. The detection unit detects a position of a connection portion in which both ends of a reinforcing tape, which is provided on an outer surface of an edge of the belt in a width direction orthogonal to a rotation direction of the belt, in a longitudinal direction along the edge of the belt are overlapped and connected. The blade comes into contact with an outer surface of the belt and an outer surface of the reinforcing tape and is provided to extend in the width direction. The control unit controls driving of the drive unit based on a detection result obtained by the detection unit such that when the drive unit rotates the belt by a constant length in a reverse direction from one end of the reinforcing tape overlapped inside toward the other end of the reinforcing tape overlapped outside at the connection portion from a state in which the belt is stopped, the drive unit rotates the belt in a forward direction to a rotation position where the other end of the reinforcing tape does not come into contact with the blade by a reverse rotation and stops the belt before the belt is reversely rotated.