Belt Drive Steering Roller Tilt Mechanism for Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
In imaging devices, the endless belt used for secondary toner transfer often experiences misalignment and deformation due to variations in stretching force, leading to image uniformity issues and potential belt walk, which existing technologies fail to adequately correct.
Innovation Solution
A belt driving device with a steering roller and adjustment mechanism that tilts to correct misalignment by adjusting the position of the pulley and link member, ensuring proper tension and alignment of the endless belt, while also incorporating a slit to discharge foreign matter and prevent its accumulation, thus maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endless belt is used for secondary toner transfer, then image transfer function is achieved, but misalignment and deformation occur due to variations in stretching force
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller is designed to be tiltable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to belt misalignment. The roller can tilt to apply corrective force to the inner side of the belt, automatically compensating for alignment variations without requiring complex control systems or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-correcting mechanisms where the steering roller automatically tilts in response to belt position variations. This self-service approach allows the belt alignment system to correct its own misalignment issues without external intervention, maintaining image transfer quality through automatic adaptation to stretching force variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the steering roller tilts to correct misalignment, then belt alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller incorporates a self-tilting mechanism that automatically adjusts to correct belt misalignment without requiring complex external control systems. The roller uses the belt's own position variations as the trigger for correction, eliminating the need for sensors, motors, or complex feedback control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering roller acts as an intermediary element between the belt and the frame, providing a simple mechanical interface for alignment correction. Rather than directly controlling the belt through complex mechanisms, the tiltable roller serves as a mediator that applies localized corrective force through its tilt, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If foreign matter accumulates in the drive mechanism, then operation continues, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A slit is introduced into the adjustment member to extract and discharge foreign matter from the drive mechanism. This opening allows toner particles and other contaminants to be ejected from the internal spaces where they would otherwise accumulate, preventing image quality deterioration while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slit structure converts the potentially harmful accumulation of foreign matter into a beneficial discharge mechanism. By providing a controlled ejection path, the design transforms the problem of foreign matter accumulation into an active cleaning function, where the normal operation of the device facilitates the removal of contaminants.
Data Source
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AI summary
A belt driving device includes: an endless belt; a stretch roller to engage the endless belt, the stretch roller including a rotary shaft; a steering roller spaced apart from the stretch roller within the endless belt; an adjustment member located along the rotary shaft of the stretch roller, the adjustment member movable along the rotary shaft; and linking mechanism to couple the adjustment member to the steering roller, the linking mechanism to engage a contact surface of the adjustment member. The contact surface includes contact points positioned at different distances from the rotary shaft to raise the linking mechanism during movement of the adjustment member, to cause the steering roller to tilt at an angle, and to maintain an alignment of the endless belt.